“You can never give up because quitting is not an option. No matter how dark it is or how weak you get, until you take that last breath, you must fight.” ~ Wayman Tisdale (1964-2009)
His music was a part of beautiful moments with my own family. He had an infectious laugh and a smile as sweet as banana pancakes and coconut syrup. His secular and spiritual music was comforting, bop driven, soaring and always imprinted with his sense of musical ownership and joy. Born in Ft. Worth TX; raised in Tulsa OK in his father’s church. Wayman went from NBA pro to a solid jazz bass man. Tisdale died on the morning of May 15, 2009 at St. John Medical Center in Tulsa, after his battle with cancer.
His “Sunday Best” starts with a rising tempo and ends with his voice woven with the melody higher into a soul blazing finish. “Brazilia” is island breeze smooth; while “In The Zone” is a jazz jam. Speaking of Fonk and nothing but; his “Sunshine” is visited by the esteemed professor of funk; Bootsy Collins and the slamming “This Fonk Is 4U” is funkdafied by the PhD of Funk; George Clinton on Wayman’s “Fonk Record”. Here’s the previously unreleased cut, “Slam Dunk”.
Wayman Tisdale
“Slam Dunk” (mp3)
from “The Wayman Tisdale Story”
(Rendezvous Music)
Buy at Amazon MP3
More On This Album
His family and friends authorized “The Wayman Tisdale Story”; Listen to the music, watch the movie. This documentary celebrates the life of the former NBA star and Jazz Musician and features performances by Wayman Tisdale, Dave Koz, Toby Keith, Jonathan Butler and many other performers. It’s available on Mack Avenue Records from Amazon.com and iTunes.
GLM contributor, Gayle Bell, shares a tribute to the life and music Wayman Tisdale http://t.co/7Fsl9yqs