Wayman Tisdale
A towering NBA power forward who swapped the roar of the arena for the smooth groove of the jazz bass, becoming a chart-topping musician.
1964–2009 (age 45)·American basketball player·Birthday: June 9·Baby Boomers
Biography
Wayman Tisdale's life was a study in graceful transitions. Born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, his athletic prowess was evident early, leading him to become a three-time All-American at the University of Oklahoma, where his number was retired. Drafted by the Indiana Pacers in 1985, he built a solid 12-year NBA career known for his reliable scoring and infectious smile. But the rhythm of his life was always set to music. He played bass guitar from childhood, and after his sports career, he dove headfirst into a second act as a smooth jazz artist. His debut album, 'Power Forward,' signaled his new direction, and his 2001 album 'Face to Face' hit number one on the Billboard contemporary jazz charts. His music, often described as uplifting and melodic, provided a soundtrack for his public battle with cancer, which he faced with the same optimism he showed on the court. His legacy is a rare double-helix of physical artistry and musical soul.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Wayman was born in 1964, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Wayman Was Born
The biggest hits of 1964
#1 Movie
Mary Poppins
Best Picture
My Fair Lady
#1 TV Show
Bonanza
Wayman's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1964Born
Civil Rights Act signed; Beatles arrive in America
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $13,450Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"I Want to Hold Your Hand" — The BeatlesBest Picture: My Fair Lady
1969Started school
Apollo 11: humans walk on the Moon; Woodstock festival
Gas: $0.35/galHome: $15,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Sugar, Sugar" — The ArchiesBest Picture: Midnight Cowboy
1977Became a teenager
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1980Could drive
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1982Could vote
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1985Turned 21
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1994Turned 30
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2004Turned 40
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2009Died at 45
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
Key Achievements
- Earned three consecutive All-American honors while playing basketball at the University of Oklahoma.
- Played 12 seasons in the NBA for the Indiana Pacers, Sacramento Kings, and Phoenix Suns.
- His 2001 smooth jazz album 'Face to Face' reached number one on the Billboard contemporary jazz chart.
- Inducted into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame in 2009.
Did You Know?
He played the bass guitar onstage with legendary musicians like B.B. King and Miles Davis.
His right leg was amputated in 2008 due to cancer, but he continued to perform music publicly afterward.
He won a gold medal with the 1984 U.S. Olympic basketball team coached by Bobby Knight.
His autobiography is titled 'Wayman Tisdale: Always a Smile.'
““I’ve been blessed. I’ve had two great careers. How many people can say that?””
