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U.S. Air Force Airmen of Note to Present Free Concert

By Jeaneane Payne

kevin burns
Senior Master Sgt. Kevin Burns
kevin burns
Technical Sergeant Paige Caroleen Martin

The United States Air Force Airmen of Note will present a free concert in Knoxville on Saturday, March 19, 2011. The concert will be held at James R. Cox Auditorium at the University of TN Alumni Memorial Building, 1408 Middle Drive at 7:30 p.m. Admission is free and open to the public.

Two of the members of the Airmen of Note are from East Tennessee. Senior Master Sgt. Kevin Burns is a native of Cleveland, TN and Technical Sgt. Paige Martin was an active vocalist in the Knoxville area.

Senior Master Sergeant Kevin R. Burns is the split lead trumpeter with the Airmen of Note, The United States Air Force Band, Bolling Air Force Base, Washington, D.C. Originally from Cleveland, Tennessee, his Air Force career began in 1993 where he was assigned to the Band of the West, Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. There he served as lead trumpet and music director for the NightHawk jazz ensemble. From December 1996 through April of 2002 he served with the Air Force Band of the Rockies, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado Springs, as lead trumpet for the Falconaires.

Sgt. Burns began music studies at Lee College, Cleveland TN. He finished at Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he completed a Bachelor of Music degree in performance and a Master of Business Administration degree.

Prior to entering the Air Force Sgt. Burns played lead trumpet with the nationally televised "Richard Roberts Live" and "Expect A Miracle" television shows in Tulsa Oklahoma. He also was a featured soloist with the San Antonio Symphony, the Oklahoma Synphonia/Tulsa Pops, the Tulsa Ballet, the Bartlesville Symphony, Ms. Oklahoma Pageant Orchestra, and worked extensively with various big bands and jazz combos. Prior to moving to Oklahoma, he was also he lead trumpet for the 1985 Tennessee All State Jazz Band, toured the entire continental U.S. with "The Spurrlows" from Florida, and toured Europe and the Eastern U.S. with various music groups while attending Lee College in Cleveland, Tennessee. Since 1988 Sgt. Burns has been actively arranging and recording horn tracks for over 60 contemporary Christian albums and many commercial/jingle projects including several for ESPN and ABC Sports.

He has performed with such major artists as Natalie Cole, Ray Charles, Mel Torme, Diane Schurr, Jack Jones, Vic Damone, Cab Calloway, Burt Bacharach, Al Hirt, Phil Driscoll, The Lettermen, Rita Moreno, The Temptations and the Four Tops.

His Air Force decorations include a Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster, Air Force Commendation Medal, an Air Force Achievement Medal, the National Defense Service Medal with a bronze star, and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.

Technical Sergeant Paige Caroleen Martin is a vocalist with the Airmen of Note, the premier jazz ensemble of the United States Air Force, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C. A native of Broadalbin, N.Y., her Air Force career began in 2003.

Sergeant Martin attended the Schenectady County Community College, where she was the featured vocalist with the SCCC Jazz Ensemble, the Vocal Chamber Ensemble and the Empire Jazz Ensemble. Also, she was the Vice President of SCCC's MENC chapter from 1993 to 1994. She continued on to Maryville College in Maryville, Tenn., where she pursued a Bachelor of Arts in Vocal Performance. She was the featured vocalist with the MC Jazz Band and Concert Band, a soloist with the MC Concert Choir and a guest vocalist on a faculty jazz recital with Professor Larry Smithee. Sergeant Martin has appeared with the Knoxville Opera Company and has been a featured soloist with the East Tennessee Jazz Orchestra and the Oak Ridge Chorus. In 2002, Sergeant Martin auditioned for and was selected to perform in the MACCO Showcase of Area Artists. Since joining the Airmen of Note, Sergeant Martin has performed with artists such as Tierney Sutton, Duffy Jackson, Ron Carter and Phil Woods. Her former teachers include Eileen Bush, Anne Taddie and Burt Rosevear.

Technical Sergeant Martin's military awards and decorations include the National Defense Service Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.

Published March 2, 2011

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