Wayman Tisdale

It's almost guaranteed when you pursue a career in sports that you better have a backup plan in mind. For six-foot-nine former NBA power forward Wayman Tisdale, his plan B was a music career, and it's gaining him just as much acclaim now as he garnered on the basketball court. After averaging roughly 15 points per game over 12 seasons in the NBA with the Indiana Pacers, Sacramento Kings, and Phoenix Suns, Tisdale retired to focus on music full-time. He's released seven jazz-tinged albums since he hung up his sneakers and is coming to town this week to play a few ditties for the Dave Koz and Friends 10th Annual Christmas Tour. Those in attendance can expect to hear songs off his latest release, Way Up!, which boasts collaborations from Koz, Eric Benet, Jonathan Butler, Kirk Whalum, and several other smooth-jazz luminaries. It's a good disc, and the skills Tisdale displays on his beloved bass guitar explain why he was inducted into the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame. It may not be as notable an accolade as winning an Olympic gold medal in 1984 with the U.S. men's basketball team alongside Michael Jordon and "Sleepy" Sam Perkins, but, hey, Tisdale sure is cashing in on plan B.