Tisdale, Wayman

views updated May 08 2018

Wayman Tisdale

1964

Professional basketball player, musician

Bass player Wayman Tisdale played twelve years in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a power forward before turning his undivided attention to his first love: music. Releasing his first solo album in 1995 while still playing in the NBA, the six-foot, nine-inch tall, 240 pound giant had released his sixth album by 2004. His first four albums reached Billboard's top ten chart and included the number-one hit "Can't Hide Love." He has also contributed to other recordings as a writer and a producer.

The youngest of six children, Wayman Lawrence Tisdale was born on June 8, 1964, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where his father, the late Rev. Louis Tisdale, served as the pastor of Tulsa's Friendship Baptist Church for over 20 years. When Tisdale was young his father bought each of his three sons a Mickey Mouse guitar, hoping at least one of them would take an interest in music. Tisdale, who loved to watch the bass players at his father's church, was instantly enthralled and began to teach himself to play guitar and bass.

Although music was Tisdale's first love, a rapid growth spurt during his junior high school yearshe grew 24 inches and began to tower over his older siblingsdrew him onto the basketball court. Though he did not completely set aside his music, basketball became his first priority. Growing to his full height of six-feet, nine inches, and displaying tremendous athletic ability, Tisdale became a star player at Booker T. Washington High School in Tulsa. By the time he graduated in the spring of 1982, he had his pick from literally hundreds of college scholarship offers.

Choosing to remain close to home, Tisdale attended Oklahoma University. Playing for the Sooners he quickly earned recognition as one of the country's best power forwards. Having watched Tisdale during his high school days, J. V. Haney of the Tulsa World recalled his reaction to Tisdale's transition into college basketball: "At 6' 9", he was too much for most high school players to defend against, but I never thought that he displayed the toughness to be a great player. Boy was I wrong. Once he arrived at the University of Oklahoma, the man-child became an honest-to-goodness man."

Tisdale was named first-team All-American in each of his three years of college play, averaging 25.6 points and over 10 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage was an impressive 57.8 percent. In 1984 he became a member of the then-amateur U.S. Olympic basketball team, which won the gold medal. Tisdale was the first Oklahoma Sooner basketball player to have his jersey number, 23, retired.

In 1985 Tisdale decided to forego his final year of college to enter the NBA draft. He was selected as the second overall pick, after Patrick Ewing, by the Indiana Pacers. During his rookie year Tisdale averaged 14.7 points and 7.2 rebounds per game. By his fourth and final season with the Pacers, Tisdale's numbers had improved to 17.5 points and 7.7 rebounds per game, but the long-suffering Pacers failed to post a winning record during the period. In 1989 Tisdale joined the Sacramento Kings, another losing team, but he had his best season on the floor, scoring a career-high average of 22.3 points per game. The following season he averaged 20 points per game, before falling to just under 17 points per game for the next three seasons. Despite his contribution, the Kings continued to post losing seasons during Tisdale's five-year tenure.

Tisdale signed as a free agent with the Phoenix Suns in 1994. Although his minutes as well as his points per game dropped, he was finally playing on a winning team. The Suns earned first place in the 1995 Pacific Division with a record of 59-23, losing in the Western Conference Semifinals. Over his twelve-year career, Tisdale scored more than 12,000 points and pulled down over 5,000 rebounds, prompting Sports Illustrated Web site writer John Hollinger to add him to the short list of the NBA's best players who were never invited to play in an All-Star game.

As Tisdale's basketball career was winding down, his music career was just getting started. "The guys, especially Charles Barkley, used to tease me on the bus when they'd see me with my bass," Tisdale told Billboard. However, before he ever released a solo album, Tisdale was busy writing and producing. He wrote the song "Payday" for The Winans, a cut that featured R. Kelly. He also wrote several songs for SWV's first album, which sold around 3 million copies.

In 1995, after putting together a demo of seven songs, he proved that his interest in music was not just a passing fancy when he scored a recording contract with Motown's MoJazz label. His debut album, aptly titled Power Forward, made it to number four on Billboard's contemporary jazz charts. In 1996 Tisdale released his second album, once again taking on a basketball theme with the title In the Zone. The unexpected death of his 74-year-old father on March 28, 1997, helped finalize his decision to retire from the NBA following the 1996-97 season to focus solely on his music. It also became the impetus for his third album, Decisions, released in 1998, which marked a pivotal moment in his professional and personal life. Although the move to fulltime musician may have surprised those who had followed his NBA career, for Tisdale the transition was natural and smooth. "Music was what I thought I was going to do," he told Jet. "I wanted to be an artist even before I started thinking about basketball."

Face to Face, released by Warner Brothers in 2001, hit the number-one spot on Billboard's contemporary jazz charts, confirming that Tisdale's abilities as a bass player rivaled his abilities as a power forward and earning him honors as the Bassist of the Year during the 2002 National Smooth Jazz Awards. The track "Can't Hide Love" was a number one hit. For his fifth album, Tisdale followed an industry trend by forming his own production company, Tisway Records, to produce 21 Days, which includes contributions from Tisdale's daughter Danielle and his brother Weldon, who followed their father as pastor of Friendship Baptist Church, where Tisdale and his family continue to attend. Tisdale wrote or co-wrote the eleven tracks for this gospel-influenced album, which includes songs such as "We Worship" and "Jesus Is the Answer."

At a Glance

Born on June 9, 1964, in Fort Worth, TX; married Regina; four children. Education: Attended University of Oklahoma, 1982-85.

Career: Indiana Pacers, professional basketball player, 1985-89; Sacramento Kings, professional basketball player, 1989-94; Phoenix Suns, professional basketball player, 1994-97; recording artist, 1996.

Memberships: Named to U.S. Olympic basketball team, 1984.

Awards: Olympic gold medal, basketball, 1984; Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame, 2002; National Smooth Jazz Awards, Bassist of the Year, 2002.

Addresses: Agent Cole Classic Management, P.O. Box 231, Canoga Park, CA 91305. Record Label Rendezvous Entertainment, 2211 Corinth Avenue, Suite 207, Los Angeles, CA 90064.

In 2004 Tisdale worked with Rendezvous Entertainment co-founder saxophonist Dave Koz to produce his sixth album, Hang Time, featuring Koz's saxophone. The album also includes the re-release of "Glory Glory," which first appeared on 21 Days and showcases Tisdale's daughter Danielle on vocals. Tisdale spent much of 2004 on the road touring with Koz. He continues to play in a variety of venues as well as work in the studio. He lives in Tulsa with his wife Regina and their four children.

Selected discography

Power Forward, Motown, 1995.

In the Zone, Motown, 1996.

Decisions, Atlantic, 1998.

Face to Face, Warner Brothers, 2001.

21 Days, Tisway Records, 2003.

Hang Time, Rendezvous, 2004.

Sources

Periodicals

Billboard, April 21, 2001, p. 18; November 1, 2003, p. 32.

Jet, August 14, 1995, p. 48; August 23, 2004, p. 35.

Sports Illustrated, July 15, 2002, p. 86.

Tulsa World, August 28, 2002.

On-line

"Interview: Wayman Tisdale," Manhunt, www.manhunt.com/features/html/232.html (January 10, 2005).

"The All-Not-Quite-Team," Sports Illustrated (January 28, 2003), http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/statitudes/news/2003/01/27/statitudes_0128/ (January 10, 2005).

Wayman Tisdale, www.tisway.com (January 10, 2005).

"Wayman Tisdale," Basketball Reference, www.basketballreference.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=TISDAWA01 (January 10, 2005).

Kari Bethel

Tisdale, Wayman

views updated May 14 2018

Wayman Tisdale

Basketball player, bass guitarist

Jazz bassist Wayman Tisdale started out as a basketball player in the National Basketball Association (NBA); he won a gold medal in the 1984 Olympics as a member of the U.S. Basketball Team. He now has a solo career playing bass guitar, and four of his albums have spent time on Billboard's Contemporary Jazz Top 10.

The son of a minister, Tisdale was born in Fort Worth, Texas, and grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He became interested in the bass as a child, when he watched the bass players in his father's church band. He wrote on his website, "I thought they were the coolest cats. They got to stand and do their thing in the back. I'd watch their fingering and how they played." His father brought home Mickey Mouse guitars for Tisdale and his two brothers. His brothers used the guitars as paddles or baseball bats, but Tisdale was hooked and started teaching himself how to play. "It's the greatest gift my dad ever gave me," he wrote on his website.

Basketball and Music

When Tisdale was not playing music, he was playing basketball. He played basketball in college at the Uni- versity of Oklahoma from 1983 to 1985, and was a three-time All-American; he was the first player on the Oklahoma team to have his jersey, number 23, retired. While in college, he spent his free time sitting in his room practicing guitar instead of going out partying. He told Sachin Shenolikar in a Sports Illustrated article that was reprinted on the Rendezvous Music website, "I would just go to the back of the room and practice bass. Just sit up in my room and play tunes." In 1984 he was chosen as a member of the U.S. Basketball Team, and won a gold medal at that year's Olympic Games.

In 1986 the Indiana Pacers made him the second overall pick in the NBA draft. He played with the Pacers as a center and power forward, and averaged over 15 points and 6 rebounds per game. The peak of his basketball career came in 1989-90, when he averaged 22.3 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. After playing with the Pacers, he also played with the Sacramento Kings and Phoenix Suns. Overall, he scored over 12,800 points and took over 5,000 rebounds during his 12-year NBA career.

Tisdale had never thought he would spend his life in basketball; music was what he had always loved. He told an interviewer in Jet, "Music was what I thought I was going to do. I wanted to be an artist even before I started thinking about basketball." He taught himself to play bass, and wrote songs for other groups, including SWV, The Winans, and Philip Bailey, before deciding to record his own CD.

In 1995 Tisdale released his debut CD, Power Forward. It hit the number five spot on Billboard's contemporary jazz chart and number 53 on the rhythm and blues list.

Tisdale retired from basketball in 1997 in order to devote his time to his musical career. His subsequent albums, In the Zone, Decisions, and Face to Face, all hit the Billboard Contemporary Jazz Top 10, and Face to Face took the number one spot. He moved from Motown to the Rendezvous label for his 2004 album Hang Time, and it stayed in the Top 5 longer than any of his previous albums. Tisdale has also had two number one radio hits with his tracks "Can't Hide Love" and "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now."

In addition to recording his own CDs, Tisdale has also played with other contemporary jazz musicians, including David Sanborn, Brian Culbertson, Everette Harp, and the group Maximum Grooves. Tisdale has been honored for his musical ability. In 2002 he was inducted into the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame with the Legacy Tribute Award. In 2004 the NAACP nominated him as an Outstanding Jazz Artist for its Image Awards.

"I'm a Born Entertainer"

Way Up, released in 2006, got its title from a conversation Tisdale had with Dave Koz, a saxophonist who founded Rendezvous Records; according to Tisdale's website, Koz remarked, "This album is going to be way up," and they knew that would have to be the title. The album featured collaborations with Koz, Eric Benet, George Duke, Bob James, Kirk Whalum, Jonathan Butler, and Jeff Lorber. Tisdale remarked on his website that one track on the album, "Get Down on It," was especially exciting for him: "Sometimes remaking such classics can be a challenge, because people are so familiar with the original. But… we came up with a fresh approach and it has people bugging out of their heads." He added, "I feel like I've grown up with this album. The way I matured as a basketball player is the same way I'm evolving as a musician, taking more control of this album and gaining the confidence to do this on my own."

One major influence on Tisdale's style was bassist Stanley Clarke. Although Tisdale also admires Bootsy Collins and Verdine White, he told Woodrow Wilkins in All About Jazz, "Stanley sounded like he was speaking when he was on bass. It's more like a singer than any other instrument."

For the Record …

Born Wayman Tisdale, June 9, 1964, in Fort Worth, Texas; married; wife's name Regina; four children. Education: University of Oklahoma

Professional basketball player, 1986-1997; released Power Forward, 1995; In the Zone, 1996; Decisions, 1998; Face to Face, 2001; Presents 21 Days, 2003; Hang Time, 2004; Way Up!, 2006.

Awards: Olympic gold medal, U.S. Basketball Team, 1984; Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame, Legacy Tribute Award, 2002; National Smooth Jazz Awards, Bassist of the Year, 2002.

Addresses: Agent—Cole Classic Entertainment, P.O. Box 231, Canoga Park, CA 91305.

Tisdale remarked to Shenolikar, "I've been on stages with Stevie Wonder, Chaka Khan, Toby Keith, Willie Nelson, Steven Tyler… I've been so blessed and privileged to play with some of the world's best musicians." He told a Jet interviewer, "I'm a born entertainer. When I'm on the court I'm having a ball—same with music." He wrote on his website, "I just love people and I feel like entertainment goes right in line with my personality. Whether it's on the stage or playing basketball, it's just what I've been called to do on this earth."

Selected discography

Power Forward, Motown, 1995.

In the Zone, Motown, 1996.

Decisions, Motown, 1998.

Face to Face, Motown, 2001.

Presents 21 Days, Motown, 2003.

Hang Time, Rendezvous, 2004.

Way Up!, Rendezvous, 2006.

Sources

Periodicals

Billboard, April 21, 2001, p. 18.

Jet, August 14, 1995, p. 48.

Sports Illustrated, July 15, 2002, p. 86.

Online

NBA Website, http://www.databasebasketball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=TISDAWA01 (January 30, 2007).

Rendezvous Records Website, http://www.rendezvouzmusic.com/v2/artistHome.php?ID=16&page+news&news=19 (February 27, 2007).

Wayman Tisdale Official Website, http://www.waymantisdale.com/ (January 30, 2007).

"Wayman Tisdale: Way Up!," All About Jazz, October 5, 2006, http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php?id=23189 (February 27, 2007).

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