USAF Band Brings ‘Dimensions in Blue’ to Valley Audiences

by Tony Vindell/LFN

The swing music the USAF Band of the West played during a concert in Brownsville was familiar to many of those who attended the 1 1/2 hours long show.

They played songs by Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller, Peggy Lee, Joan Baez and ended the presentation with John Newton’s Amazing Grace.

The 12-member band from Lackland Air Force Base in Bexar County recognized the many servicemen and women who served or are still serving their country.

They also paid tribute to one of the first fatalities of 2020.

Miguel Villalon, a 21 year old U.S. Army Specialist died in a bombing in the Kandahar province of Afghanistan on Jan. 11.

Villalon’s parents, Jesus and Olivia Villalon, are from Brownsville. His funeral services were held Saturday at Buena Vista cemetery.

The USAF concert, called Dimensions in Blue, is a part of a tour the band is making in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama Georgia and Florida.

The concert was held Wednesday, Jan. 22 at the Texas Southmost College Performing Arts Center.

The band played before a crowd that nearly filled the auditorium and most of them were senior citizens and Winter Texans.

Joann Hemlin, a Canadian from Ontario, said she loved the music and the ambience.

“I just wish our people would show as much respect for our Armed Forces as here in the US,” she said. “The concert was great.”

Brownsville resident Romulo Sanchez said he has been at concerts given by members of the Armed Forces.

“This is the first time I have been at a Band of the West concert, though,“ he said. ‘They were really good.”

The USAF band played a second concert on Thursday, Jan. 24, at the South Padre Island Convention Center.