Hitting High Notes

Are Hoopsters World’s Tallest Band?

NY Post -The Rumble, September 5, 2010

So what measures over 60-feet tall, sounds terrific and beats the heck out of trying to eat a 12-inch pizza in less than 105.37 seconds? The NBA Legends Band, composed of former NBA players, an ABA product and one WNBA vet. The group is trying to get into the Guinness Book of World Records as the “World’s Tallest Band.”

But not only is the band big, but it’s talented, which was shown during NBA All-Star Weekend last February. The band also performed at the recent Hall of Fame induction ceremonies.

The Post’s Fred Kerber reports the idea for the band came from ex-Knick Charles Smith, the executive director of the National Basketball Retired Players Association. Others had gone into music before, the most notable being the late Wayman Tisdale.

“Throughout my career, I’ve heard players sing on buses, bring their instruments on the road and start record labels all for the love of music,” said Smith who contacted the NBRPA membership about trying to drum up a group.

When Smith received a healthy response, he took the next step.

“I then contacted a very good friend, Nat Aderly, the musical director for the late Luther Vandross, and he worked with the group,” Smith said.

The band currently consists of Terry Cummings (Bucks), keyboards and vocals; Thurl Bailey (Jazz), vocals; Anthony Avent (Magic) vocals; Kym Hampton (Liberty), vocals; Bob Elliott (Suns), drums; Andy Toolson (Jazz), keyboards; Luther Wright (Jazz) guitar; Calvin Natt (Nets/Nuggets), bass guitar; Howard Smith (Squires, ABA) keyboards. Avent and Wright played, basketball that is, at Seton Hall.