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Strolling Strings perform at the Kennedy Center Honors

  • Published
  • By Senior Master Sgt. William Tortolano
Washington, D.C. --  Lining the Red Carpet at the State Department, the Air Force Strolling Strings entertained this year's Kennedy Center honorees David Letterman, Dustin Hoffman, Led Zeppelin, Chicago bluesman Buddy Guy and ballerina Natalia Makarova. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was joined by her husband, former President Bill Clinton, in welcoming a virtual "who's who" of Hollywood stars. Stephen Colbert danced to "Brazil," Bonnie Raitt sang "What a Wonderful World" and Yo Yo Ma held his heart, transfixed by Piazzolla's "Oblivion." Itzhak Perlman air-bowed along with "Sabre Dance" and pronounced it, "Very good!"

Led by Strolling Strings director, Tech. Sgt. Luke Wedge, the group has been in record demand this holiday season with 39 jobs in 16 consecutive days. Many performances are string quartets for the vice president, but not all jobs, like this one, are holiday events. The Strolling Strings played a 90-minute show that evening entirely from memory. Guests passed by expressing thanks and greetings to the group while waiting in line. John Dow, vice president for Press at the Kennedy Center said, "It was great listening to you last night. Thanks very much for adding your talents to an already wonderful event." The group received kudos from all attendees, including on-air compliments by David Letterman shortly thereafter.