305th Airman to perform at AMC Icon singing competition

by 2nd Lt. David J. Murphy
Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs

10/3/2012 - JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- A Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst representative will sing in the upcoming Air Mobility Command Icon singing competition at the Scott Club on Scott Air Force Base, Ill., Oct. 25.

Staff Sgt. Oliver Dagum, 305th Aerial Port Squadron training instructor and Tulsa, Okla., native, won his chance during the local AMC Icon competition Aug. 16 here. Although he took third place, Dagum is moving to the next round because the second place winner, Senior Airman Benjamin Florez, 305th Aerial Port Squadron ramp specialist or "port dawg," is deploying around the same time-frame as the competition.

"If I were to go I would want my mind to be totally in it and not someplace else," said Florez. "So I decided to give it to someone else because I want their mind to be totally into it."
Florez sang "If I Ain't Got You" by Alicia Keys, during the AMC Icon competition.

"I'm looking forward to it," said Dagum. "I'm going to be singing 'Ain't No Sunshine' by Chris Allen, the song I sang during the local competition. Before the event I plan to work on my showmanship and practice the song."

Contestants will compete for $2,000 in cash prizes and the winner will receive a special invitation to audition with the Air Force Tops in Blue. The event will also feature the Air Force Band of Mid-America
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"Hopefully my experience singing for Tops in Blue in 2008 will help me in the competition," said Dagum. "I'll probably use the money toward music-business classes if I win."

St. Louis media personalities: "Smash," from The Smash Band, and FOX 2's Mandy Murphey will join Dr. Stella Markou, director of vocal studies at the University of Missouri in St. Louis, as returning judges for the 2012 event. New judges include Jim Cornelison, opera performer and full-time national anthem singer for the Chicago Blackhawks, and J. Rome, winner of the ABC show "Duets," are scheduled to join the judging panel.

Dagum will compete with participants from Air Force bases throughout AMC to include:

- 1st Lt. Nicole White representing Scott AFB, Ill.
- Master Sgt. Jason Shamis representing Joint Base Charleston, S.C.
- Tech Sgt. Sonya Bryson representing MacDill AFB, Fla.
- Tech Sgt. Doug Boren representing McConnell AFB, Kan.
- Staff Sgt. Tiry Crane representing Little Rock AFB, Ariz.
- Senior Airman Desiree Scarver representing Travis AFB, Calif.
- Airman 1st Class Duawana Robinson representing Dover AFB, Del.
- Airman 1st Class Abigail Foster representing Fairchild AFB, Wash.
- Airman 1st Class Andrew Hicks representing Grand Forks AFB, N.D.

The competition is set to begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Scott Club. The first 250 people will receive complementary Icon t-shirts.