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USAF Band Primed for Broadcast on Veterans Day Weekend

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Brian McCurdy and Tech. Sgt. Matthew Murray
  • The USAF Band
JOINT BASE ANACOSTIA-BOLLING, D.C. --  Several units from The United States Air Force Band, along with world-class guest artists, will be featured in an upcoming television broadcast "America's Veterans--A Musical Tribute" on Veterans Day weekend. The event was taped on May 14 at the Music Center at Strathmore in Bethesda, Md. Guest artists in the telecast will include Peter Cetera, Melinda Doolittle, Lonestar and Blair Underwood. The evening will also profile the lives of veterans who have served in conflicts ranging from World War II, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan.

Country crossover superstars Lonestar will perform their hit songs "Everything's Changed," "Amazed" and "I'm Already There." The band's meteoric rise to fame has included a stunning twenty-seven singles on the country charts, nine number one hits and three certified gold and platinum albums.

Melinda Doolittle will display her soulful vocal talents with a sweeping Motown-styled rendition of the Celine Dionne hit "Declaration of Love." She will also demonstrate her stylistic range and versatility with a stage-stopping version of George Gershwin's classic, "I've Got Rhythm."

Peter Cetera is a successful solo artist, songwriter, bass guitarist, music producer and founding member of the acclaimed rock band Chicago. Throughout his career Cetera has performed and recorded countless top forty singles, including many number one hits. His selections for the evening will include pop chart toppers "Glory of Love," "Hard to Say I'm Sorry" and "You're the Inspiration."

Grammy award-winning television and film actor Blair Underwood will serve as special guest emcee for the evening, narrating a series of musical vignettes profiling the lives of veterans from each branch of the military. Mr. Underwood comes from a family of military service, as he himself is the son of a United States Army Colonel.

To close out the night, The USAF Band and all the featured guest artists will join forces for a climatic finale rendition of "God Bless America," arranged by the Band's own Master Sgt. Alan Baylock.

Now in its fourth year, "America's Veterans--A Musical Tribute" will be broadcast on public television on Veterans Day weekend. To find a local public television station in your area that will televise the event, or to see special sneak previews of the performance, please click here.