Aaron Tippin headlines annual state trooper fundraiser

Alaska country music fans have the opportunity to get their fill of honky tonk and twang this coming week as super star Aaron Tippin whose career spans a quarter of a century tours the state performing on behalf of the Fraternal Order of Alaska State Troopers or FOAST.

Tippin begins his Alaska tour on Fri., Oct. 20, with show at Kenai High School auditorium followed by a performance in Anchorage Sat., Oct. 21, at the Egan Center.

Tippin’s 2017 Alaska appearances are part of his national Aaron Tippin 25 Years tour and the 30th annual presentation of a nationally-known artist as the FOAST fall fundraiser.

Larry Furstenberg, director of advertising and ticket sales for FOAST since its fall concert promotion began, said Tippin’s music attracts the kind of crowd the fundraising organization wants.

“Heis a household name from the country music industry,” Furstenberg said. “Even people that don’t know country music that well do know his song, ‘You’ve Got to Stand for Something.’”

The 1991 single that made it the No. 6 spot on “Billboard’s Hot Country Singles and Tracks” chart was popular with U.S. military personnel serving in the Gulf War at the time. Its message of standing up for one’s beliefs was an anthem readily adopted by many Americans. Its lyrics, “You’ve got to be your own man, not a puppet on a string,” appealed to the masses beyond the country music scene.

In his career, Tippin released nine studio albums and two compilations – five have earned gold certifications and one earned a platinum certification. He has more than thirty singles on the “Billboard Hot Country Songs” charts, including three claiming the number one spot: “There Ain't Nothin' Wrong with the Radio” in 1992, “That's as Close as I'll Get to Loving You” in 1995 and the rebellious theme “Kiss This” that in 2000 gave women across America a new way to tell off a love interest. Other Tippin tunes making the top 10 include: “I Wouldn't Have It Any Other Way”, “My Blue Angel”, “Working Man's Ph.D”, “For You I Will” and “Where the Stars and Stripes and the Eagle Fly” – another tune that played well to patriotic crowds.

In 2006, he established his own record label, Nippit Records, from which he put out a compilation album titled, “Now & Then.”

“He is very patriotic in his music,” Furstenberg said. “He fits the model of the type of artist FOAST wants to present with his appeal across many demographic lines and especially to our military personnel stationed at JBER. Watching Aaron Tippin perform his songs live is very fulfilling.”

Tippin recently completed a tour of the Rocky Mountain States as the star attraction for law enforcement fundraiser concerts. Furstenberg had the opportunity to tag along for venues in the Dakotas and Montana. It gave him a sneak peek of what to expect for Tippin’s Alaska appearances.

Opening for Tippin is a father/son duo also well known among country music fans for their acoustical guitar and vocal performances: Tim and Myles.

Their last name is Thompson, but they are more often referred to by their first names.

They let a low-key “father/son” presentation speak for their musicality and talents. As their website states, “The unique relationship of a father and son cannot be argued nor explained, but when the relationship includes musical passion, virtuosity and showmanship – magic happens!”

Tim – a Nashville, Tennessee, based session player and singer/songwriter – is the 2008 International Fingerstyle Champion. Myles, now just 21 years old, is quickly becoming one of the nation’s best mandolin players.

“We learned about them on Youtube, watched their acoustical performance and knew we wanted them to come to Alaska,” Furstenberg said. “Folks coming to the concert are in for an amazing 35-minute acoustical treat.”

Read Amy Armstrong’s interview with Aaron Tippin at anchoragepress.com.

Learn more about Tim and Miles online at timandmylesthompson.com.

Learn more about Aaron Tippin online at aarontippin.com.

Author’s Note: Aaron Tippin also performs on Sun., Oct. 22 at the Carlson Center in Fairbanks, at the Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall in Juneau on Tues., Oct. 24 and at Ketchikan High School on Thu., Oct. 26. Tickets for the Anchorage show are available by calling FOAST at 279-5050 or at the Alaska State Trooper Museum at 245 W. 5th Street in Anchorage.