Bandsman receives award for Tops in Blue contributions

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Jon Linker
  • Air Force Band of Liberty
Hanscom Air Force Base --  Sometimes first impressions aren't everything. Take Air Force Band of Liberty vocalist Master Sgt. Huey Gauthier's initial encounter with Air Force Entertainment for example.

In 1986, Sergeant Gauthier survived highly competitive auditions to earn a spot with Tops in Blue, the Air Force's entertainment showcase, only to be sent home from the road for attitude problems.

With that group, second chances are hard to come by, which only makes his story more remarkable. Not only did Sergeant Gauthier go on to perform with three Tops in Blue tours -- 1990, 1996 and 1998 -- he has since been invited on five separate occasions to serve as a coach and mentor for auditionees during the annual Air Force Worldwide Talent Contest that selects the Tops in Blue members.

Recently, Sergeant Gauthier's dedication and commitment were honored as he received Air Force Entertainment's most sought-after award, the Golden Roger. First given in 1972, it's a sort of "lifetime achievement" award for those who've made exceptional contributions to the Tops in Blue program. Individuals are secretly nominated by prior Golden Roger recipients and the winner is announced at the annual banquet following the Tops in Blue auditions.

For Sergeant Gauthier the honor came as a complete surprise. "I still can't believe I got it," he said. "I didn't expect it. I just try to run that moment in my mind when they called my name and I just laugh because I'm the last person people would expect to get the Roger. It just affirms my heart is in the right place with the program."

The award was even more meaningful to the sergeant since he struggled with health problems throughout 2005 which kept him from coaching Tops in Blue that year and prevented him from singing until this past summer.

"I think it was a little more special to me because I'd been out of the entertainment circle for a year and a half,' he said. "It just felt good to be appreciated."

Sergeant Gauthier gives so much to Tops in Blue because he feels the program has given so much to him. Ever since he first saw the group perform during basic training in 1981 he said he knew it was something he wanted to join. Despite the setback on his first try, he didn't give up on his goal. Given a second chance to be a part of the troupe, he made a special effort to encourage others during the sometimes arduous year-long tour.

"Each time I went on the road I tried to help people make it through the tour," he said. "I wanted to be there to help. Every tour when people would say they wanted to go home I helped them make it through. I just felt I owed that."

In fact, Sergeant Gauthier said he owes his current job to the group. Originally a photographer in the Air Force, Sergeant Gauthier was offered a position in the band career field after being noticed during a Tops in Blue performance at Hanscom in 1998. "I'm here in the Band of Liberty because of Tops in Blue," he said. "I never could have done this without that experience. It helped me grow up and get this job."

Once he joined the Band of Liberty in May 1999, Sergeant Gauthier was no longer eligible to perform in Tops in Blue since he was now considered a professional. However, he still wanted to stay connected to the program and soon got involved as a coach. Each year, longtime Tops in Blue producer Tom Edwards selects six prior members to serve as coaches for the 80 to 90 auditionees invited to Lackland Air Force Base, Texas for the Worldwide Talent Contest.

For 14 days the coaches work with contestants on singing, dancing, costuming and stage presence. It's not easy but Sergeant Gauthier can't imagine being anyplace else. He's set to retire from the Air Force in June 2007, but still plans on being at Lackland each fall working with the Tops in Blue hopefuls as usual.

"Oh yeah, even when I get out and do the civilian thing, the first thing I'm going to ask is to take two weeks off for Tops in Blue," Sergeant Gauthier said with a smile. "That's going to be in my contract. It's grueling work but I love it."