SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. –
This year's contestants for the AMC Icon finals will sing along with a live band - AMC's own Starlifter from the Air Force Band of Mid America.
For the upcoming finals at the Scott Club, 6:30-9 p.m. CST, Thursday, Oct. 22, the prospect of live accompaniment promises to energize both the audience and contestants alike.
Starlifter also will play 2-3 sets of R & B, rock and other popular music as an added special performance for the event.
As another added feature, the command finals will be broadcast to AMC installations planning an Icon viewing party. All AMC installations will receive a DVD of the command performance for use on their installations.
"AMC Icon provides Air Force vocalists an opportunity to shine, and this year we have some truly exceptional talent," said Sam Parker, program manager for ICON.
Participants are competing for $2,000 in cash prizes, and the winner also receives a special invitation to audition with the Air Force Tops in Blue - the Air Force's premier entertainment showcase. One of last year's Icon contestants, Senior Airman Jeffery Collins from Dover AFB, is currently touring with Tops In Blue.
Participants in the 2009 Icon command performance include:
· Staff Sgt. Shawn Summers, Charleston AFB, S.C.
· Tech. Sgt. Latisa Eddy, Dover AFB, Del.
· Capt. Manuela Peters, Fairchild AFB, Wash.
· Airman 1st Class Marshall Merriweather, Grand Forks AFB, N.D.
· Staff Sgt. Latanza Meabon-Whiteside, Little Rock AFB, Ark.
· Senior Master Sgt. Craig Hall, MacDill AFB, Fla.
· Airman 1st Class Rachel Kleist, McChord AFB, Wash.
· Staff Sgt. Doug Boren, McConnell AFB, Kan.
· Master Sgt. Lisa White, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.
· Airman 1st Class Charlie Parker, Pope AFB, N.C.
· Staff Sgt. Rick Bislich, Scott AFB
· Staff Sgt. Janina Morrison, Travis AFB, Calif.
· Senior Airman Anthony Kingston, Andrews AFB (AMC affiliate unit), Md.
Starlifter bandsmen to perform are:
· Master Sgt. Guy Cantonwine, bassist and noncommissioned officer-in-charge
· Master Sgt. T.C. Cottrell, guitarist
· Airman 1st Class Aaron Kusterer, guitarist
· Master Sgt. Ron Johnson, drums
· Tech. Sgt. (ret.) Phil Guillaume, keyboardist
· Staff Sgt. Shawna Kuebler, keyboardist
· Tech. Sgt. Keisha Gwin-Gooden, vocalist
· Tech. Sgt. Albert Williams, vocalist
· Staff Sgt. Ethan Hall, audio technician
· Master Sgt. Dan Kenemore, broadcast audio feed technician
The master of ceremonies for AMC Icon is Tech. Sgt Walter Campbell. Sergeant Campbell has toured with Tops in Blue performing throughout the United States and around the world.
Additionally, a special panel of judges will be on hand to select the best of the best. The judges include two St. Louis radio personalities, "Smash" from FM 103.3, and "Cornbread" from FM 92.3. The third member of the judges' panel, and special guest performer, is Stella Markou, director of vocal studies at the University of Missouri in St. Louis. Ms. Markou is also a local recording artist and theatrical performer.
"AMC Icon supports the command's commitment to the Year of the Military Family and promises to be an outstanding program," said Mr. Parker.