- Wayman Tisdale played 12 years in the NBA, averaging 15.3 points and 6.1 rebounds per game
- After retiring from the NBA, Tisdale started a jazz band named Fifth Quarter
- Tisdale sadly passed away in 2009 after a short battle with cancer
Wayman Tisdale was a former NBA player, playing in the league for 12 years and for three teams. Tisdale is most notably remembered for his time with the Sacramento Kings, where he once averaged 22.3 points and 7.5 rebounds a game during the 1989–90 season.
After Tisdale’s NBA career ended, in which he averaged 15.3 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game. Tisdale didn’t just go off in retirement and sit at home, doing nothing.
No, Tisdale started a new career, which was successful, as well. What was Tisdale’s new career? Jazz musician. In fact, Tisdale started a jazz band named Fifth Quarter.
Tisdale and his band hooked up with MoJazz, which is a jazz record label. Fifth Quarter made an album named “Power Forward” and it reached No. 4 on the Billboard jazz chart.
Tisdale played the bass in the group, and the other members of Fifth Quarter were local jazz musicians from Sacramento. Fifth Quarter was founded when Tisdale was a member of the Sacramento Kings.
Tisdale used to take his bass guitar with him on road trips while playing in the NBA. While other players were out partying on the road, Tisdale was hanging out in his room, perfecting his craft.
Tisdale’s Jazz Career And Diagnosis
After releasing “Power Forward” in 1995, Tisdale’s Fifth Quarter released seven more albums, giving the band eight studio releases. Fifth Quarter’s 2001 album, “Face to Face” hit No. 1 on Billboard’s contemporary jazz chart.
Yes, Tisdale was having a solid second career, especially when he was awarded the Legacy Tribute Award by the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame in 2002. Things all seemed to be going great until a fall on February 8, 2007, changed everything.
Tisdale fell down his stairs and broke his leg on February 8, 2007. While in surgery, doctors discovered a cancerous tumor in his knee.
After the surgery, Tisdale put out an announcement on his website:
“I am so pleased to report that my recovery will be 100%, and that I have been told that I am otherwise cancer-free. To recover properly, I need to curtail my touring and public appearances for a while. What this means is that I will have more free time to devote to my music. I am taking this time to work on a new record and some other very interesting projects.”
Unfortunately, things would not get better for Tisdale. In 2008, Tisdale had part of his right leg amputated.
This didn’t stop Tisdale from making music, as his last studio album, “Rebound,” was inspired by his battle with cancer. On April 17, 2009, Tisdale played his final concert in Memphis, Tennessee.
On May 15, Tisdale passed away due to a ruptured esophagus following radiation treatments. Tisdale was only 44.
Wayman Tisdale’s passing was a tragedy, but what he gave the world, from his basketball performances to his music career, will live on forever. And for that, we say thank you, Wayman Tisdale.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0KV0llLQ0w
We sincerely appreciate and respect you as a reader of our site. It would help us a lot if you follow us on Google News because of the latest update.
Thanks for following us. We really appreciate your support.
