Oklahoma native son Wayman Tisdale’s mercurial life will be remembered and celebrated this month with the release of the award-winning documentary The Wayman Tisdale Story on Nov. 22.
The Wayman Tisdale Story details the story of the former basketball star and jazz musician. Told through his own words, The Wayman Tisdale Story journeys through Tisdale’s life from this childhood as a preacher’s son to his battle with cancer – ultimately succumbing at just 44 years old. The documentary will be released on DVD and CD/DVD by Rendezvous Music/Mack Avenue.
While attending Booker T. Washington High School in Tulsa, Tisdale was one of the most highly touted high school basketball players in the country. He played basketball at the University of Oklahoma, where he was the first player in college basketball history to become a first team All-American in his freshman, sophomore and junior seasons. After winning the gold medal in the 1984 Olympic games, Tisdale entered the 1985 NBA draft. Over the next 12 years, Tisdale became an NBA star while playing for the Indiana Pacers, Sacramento Kings and Phoenix Suns. As his basketball career was ending, he turned his focus to his self-described “first love” with the release of his debut jazz album, Power Forward, followed by eight other eclectic jazz albums – four of which hit No. 1 on the jazz charts.
Rendezvous Music complements the telling of Wayman’s story with a soundtrack featuring 13 tracks, including the previously unreleased track, “Slam Dunk,” produced by Jeff Lorber, and “Cryin’ For Me,” which was written and performed as a tribute to Tisdale by Toby Keith. For information, visit www.thewaymantisdalestory.com.
Tulsa will play host to the world premiere of “The Wayman Tisdale Story” at 7:30pm on Saturday, October 29 at the Walter Arts Center at Holland Hall, located at 5666 East 81st Street. Doors open at 6:30pm. The event is free and open to the public.
