Post Falls grad makes it to the Tops
<p>Tops in Blue vocalist Jordan Premo, left, of Post Falls, waits to snap a photo June 15 with Chris Hotine, of Post Falls, who works security detail at the Mountain Home Air Force Base in southwestern Idaho. ÒJordan has been given a chance to bring a little bit of ÔhometownÕ to those away from home,ÕÓ JordanÕs mom, Kelley Kempton, said. ÒIt gives our soldiers a sense of pride and lets them know they are not forgotten.Ó</p>
POST FALLS - The River City has a new claim to fame: 23-year-old Jordan Premo.
Senior Airman Premo, 11th Civil Engineer Squadron structural journeyman of the Joint Base Andrews-Naval Air Facility in Maryland, has been a performer with dreams of the stage since he was a child.
Those dreams are now materializing for the Post Falls High School graduate. Premo is presently a vocalist with Tops in Blue, a prestigious, high-energy entertainment group made of 35 to 40 active-duty Air Force personnel who have extraordinary amateur talent in singing, music and dancing, as well as Air Force technicians and drivers who help produce the show.
"I know he's doing what he loves," said his mom, Kelley Kempton, of Post Falls. "He loves being up on the stage."
Kempton said Premo has been singing and performing since he was 13. He plays guitar and sings, but right now is singing and participating in the Tops in Blue routines that dazzle audiences around the world.
"He is loving it," Kempton said. "It's very hard work. Sometimes they work 18-hour days."
Tops in Blue serves as America's goodwill ambassador around the globe. Its main purpose is to perform for military personnel and their families at home and overseas. Tops boosts morale and produces a world-class, family-friendly show that has been entertaining audiences for 60 years.
Premo, who has completed one tour in Afghanistan, found out last year he would be joining Tops for 10 months of touring and performing. He auditioned two times and was accepted after the second attempt. Several videos of his solo performances, including his Tops in Blue audition video, can be viewed at: www.youtube.com/user/jordanpremo09/videos
"I think it's great experience for him because he's always wanted to break out into music," Kempton said. "This has given him a very realistic view of what it would be like."
Premo's parents were able to see him sing with Tops when the group toured through the Northwest last month, performing in Riverfront Park in Spokane June 21 and the Four Seasons Arena in Montana June 23. Tops members have no "roadies" or outside help, so they are responsible for building and breaking down the elaborate stages and the technicians handle the lights and sound. Premo is in charge of setting up the stage and each artist has his or her own special secondary job next to performing.
"I'm amazed at the production value, how professional (it is)," said Premo's stepdad, Mike Kempton, parks leadworker for the city of Coeur d'Alene. "It's just like anything you'd see at a big-time concert."
Mike said Premo's stepsisters, Shannon, 17, and Erin, 15, of Post Falls, admire their big brother for his vocal talent and national celebrity status.
"They think it's the greatest thing in the whole world," he said. "They think he's amazing."
Kelley said Premo has performed at Calypsos Coffee and Creamery in the past and will most likely do so again once he returns to Post Falls. He will be performing with Tops through at least December and will resume active military duties once the 2014 tour schedule has wrapped up. Premo has been in the Air Force five years, just signed up for four more and will have another opportunity to audition for Tops in two years. Tops in Blue 2014 will be delighting audiences in California and Alaska before making its way across the Atlantic Ocean to Japan and the Republic of Korea. The group performs many shows each month.
"I'm very proud of him," Kelley said. "Everybody I work with knows it."
Info: www.topsinblue.com