The largest spirit in Smooth Jazz belonged to Wayman Tisdale, the 6'9", 12-year NBA veteran turned jazz bassist who took the format by storm with his music, his groove and even his own annual music cruise.  We lost this great man on May 15th, due to "complications of cancer."  Wayman fought hard to rebound from leg cancer a couple of years ago and was optimistic for a full recovery.  We all were...  in fact, I have seen him two years in a row at the Seabreeze Jazz Festival in Florida.  Last year, he was weakened from the chemo, but strong...  gave 200% during the performance and signed autographs after his show.  Just a few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of catching him again at the Seabreeze and while he had lost a significant amount of weight, he looked happy...  spirited...  and again, gave 200% during his performance.  His wife awaited him in the wings after the show...  I could see concern in her eyes, but it was being overridden by enthusiasm for her husband's gift of music.  The Tisdales made their way to an adoring audience where Wayman signed autographs for as long as the crowd desired.

We lost a great, great human being this past week...  a really soulful musician and one of the most recent driving forces in our genre of music that we call Smooth Jazz.  I will dearly miss the energy and passion that Wayman Tisdale brought to our world!

Sandy Shore - President/Founder 

SmoothJazz.com, Inc.

In lieu of sending flowers, at the behest of the Wayman Tisdale family, please send donations & financial contributions to:

Wayman Tisdale Foundation 

c/o Paul Samuels
Morgan Stanley
2200 S. Utica Place, Suite 500
Tulsa, OK 74114
(918) 582-3211 or (800) 877-8651

Cards and letters can be sent to:

Regina K. Tisdale
c/o Friendship Church
1709 N. Madison Ave.
Tulsa, OK 74106