AdisA Entertainment Remembrance

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AdisA Entertainment Remembrance a page dedicated to those who have moved on.

15/08/2024

Sylvia Rose Moy was an American songwriter and record producer, best known for her work with the legendary Motown Records. Born on September 15, 1938, in Detroit, Michigan, Moy's career in the music industry began in the early 1960s. She initially worked as a singer, but her talents soon transitioned her into a prolific songwriter and producer.

Moy made significant contributions to the Motown sound, collaborating with artists such as Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, and The Isley Brothers. One of her most notable achievements was co-writing several hit songs with Stevie Wonder, including "Uptight (Everything's Alright)" and "My Cherie Amour." These songs became classics in the Motown catalog and helped solidify Moy's reputation as a skilled songwriter.

In addition to her collaborations with Wonder, Moy also worked with other Motown artists, penning hits such as "This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You)" for The Isley Brothers and "It Takes Two" for Marvin Gaye and Kim Weston.

Throughout her career, Moy earned acclaim for her songwriting abilities, which often combined catchy melodies with heartfelt lyrics. Her work played a significant role in shaping the Motown sound and contributed to the label's success during the 1960s and beyond.

Sylvia Rose Moy's legacy continues to inspire aspiring songwriters and producers in the music industry. She passed away on April 15, 2017, but her contributions to the world of music remain timeless, ensuring that her influence will be felt for generations to come.

14/08/2024

Wally Amos, the creator of Famous Amos cookies, died on Monday after complications of dementia.

14/08/2024

The star’s son revealed that his mother had been recovering from a recent medical procedure.

14/08/2024

In 1928, Etta Jone, a Black jazz singer, was born in Aiken, South Carolina.
At age three, her family moved to New York City. With their support, she entered a talent contest when she was 15. Although she didn't win, she got a job as the newest and youngest member of a big band led by pianist Buddy Johnson. She stayed with the band for over a year and, in 1944, recorded her first album. Jones continued recording with musicians like Barney Bigard, J. C. Heard, and Earl "Fatha" Hines. In 1952, she went solo as a singer but often worked odd jobs as an elevator operator, a seamstress, and an album stuffer to make ends meet.
Jones’ big break came in 1960 with her recording of “Don't Go To Strangers,” which sold a million and earned her a gold record. She continued recording and touring, and in 1968, while in Washington, D.C., for a gig, she was teamed up with saxophonist Houston Person and his trio. Some say that the chemistry between Etta and Houston was suggestive of Billie Holiday and Lester Young. The two decided to stay together, a partnership that lasted nearly 29 years. During the early 1990s, she surfaced from a severe bout with cancer with a new passion for life and a spirit for musical adventure.
She took more solo jobs and collaborated with pianist Benny Green and bluesman Charles Brown. While her career spans 50 years, she never achieved fame and fortune. Many felt it was because she pursued singing in its purest form.
Etta Jones, the productive jazz vocalist whose soulful, blues-influenced recordings won her praise and two Grammy nominations, died of complications from cancer on October 16, 2001. She was 72.

13/08/2024

80 years ago, George Stinney Jr at 5ft 1in and weighing just 95lb, the guards had difficultly strapping him into a chair built for adults. When the switch was flipped and the first 2,400 volts surged through his body, the too-large death mask slipped from his face revealing the tears falling from his scared, open eyes. A second and third charge followed. He was pronounced dead on 16 June 1944.

13/08/2024

Remembering Shirley Hemphill
(July 1, 1947 – Dec. 10, 1999) She was a stand-up comedian and actress. Hemphill moved to Los Angeles in the 1970s to pursue a career as a stand-up comedian. After working the Los Angeles comedy club circuit, her routine eventually attracted attention leading to her being cast in guest starring roles on television. In 1976, she landed the role of brassy waitress Shirley Wilson on the sitcom What's Happening!!

12/08/2024

As creator, producer, and host of Soul Train, Don Cornelius, born September 27, 1936, engineered the “hippest trip in America” for over two decades. He single-handedly created a nationally televised platform for African American music and culture that featured the biggest names in soul, R&B, and hip-hop.

11/08/2024

#𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆𝗛𝗲𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗹𝘆𝗕𝗶𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗱𝗮𝘆 🙏🏾 🕊
#𝗔𝗹𝗲𝘅𝗛𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘆
𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗪𝗮𝘀 𝗕𝗼𝗿𝗻 103 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗔𝗴𝗼 𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆
#𝗜𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗰𝗮 #𝗡𝗲𝘄𝗬𝗼𝗿𝗸 #𝗪𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗿 #𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿 #𝗥𝗼𝗼𝘁𝘀 #𝗠𝗮𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗫 ✊🏾🤎 📙 🖋 🎥🎞️🎬

Alex Haley, born on August 11, 1921, in Ithaca, New York, is best remembered as a literary giant who illuminated African American history through his powerful storytelling. His journey from a modest upbringing to becoming one of the most influential writers of the 20th century is a tale of resilience, dedication, and an unwavering commitment to uncovering the roots of his heritage.

Haley's early years were shaped by the values of education and perseverance. His father, Simon Haley, was a professor of agriculture, and his mother, Bertha George Haley, was a teacher. Although born in New York, Alex spent much of his childhood in the small town of Henning, Tennessee, where he was surrounded by the oral histories passed down through generations of his family. These stories, particularly those shared by his grandmother, would later become the foundation of his most famous work.

After graduating from high school at the age of 15, Haley briefly attended Alcorn State University before transferring to Elizabeth City State College. However, the pull of adventure and a desire to see the world led him to enlist in the U.S. Coast Guard at 18. During his 20 years of service, Haley honed his writing skills by penning love letters and stories for his fellow servicemen. It was during this time that he discovered his passion for storytelling, which would become the cornerstone of his career.

After retiring from the Coast Guard in 1959, Haley pursued writing full-time. His breakthrough came with the publication of 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗼𝗯𝗶𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗵𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗠𝗮𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗺 𝗫 in 1965. The book, which was based on Haley's in-depth interviews with the civil rights leader, became an instant bestseller and remains one of the most important works on race and identity in America. Haley’s ability to capture Malcolm X’s voice and story with such authenticity garnered him widespread acclaim and established him as a significant figure in American literature.

But it was Haley's next project that would catapult him to international fame. Inspired by the stories of his ancestors that he had heard as a child, Haley set out on an ambitious quest to trace his family lineage back to Africa. The result was 𝗥𝗼𝗼𝘁𝘀: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗮𝗴𝗮 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝗻 𝗔𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗙𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆, published in 1976. This monumental work, which spans over seven generations, tells the story of Kunta Kinte, a young man from The Gambia who was captured and sold into slavery, and his descendants in America. 𝗥𝗼𝗼𝘁𝘀 was not just a book; it was a cultural phenomenon. It sparked a national conversation about the legacy of slavery, race relations, and the African American experience. The book sold millions of copies and was adapted into a television miniseries in 1977 that captivated audiences across the globe. The series won numerous awards and remains one of the most-watched programs in television history.

Haley’s success with 𝗥𝗼𝗼𝘁𝘀 made him a household name, and his work had a profound impact on the way Americans—and people around the world—viewed history. He continued to write and lecture on African American history, using his platform to educate and inspire others. Haley's contributions to literature were recognized with numerous accolades, including a special Pulitzer Prize and the Spingarn Medal from the NAACP.

Despite his public success, Haley's personal life was marked by its own share of challenges. He was married three times—first to Nannie Branch in 1941, then to Juliette Collins in 1949, and finally to Myra Lewis in 1977. He had three children, but his marriages ended in divorce. Nevertheless, Haley remained dedicated to his work and his family, often drawing on his personal experiences to enrich his storytelling.

In the later years of his life, Haley continued to explore his family's history, working on a sequel to 𝗥𝗼𝗼𝘁𝘀 titled 𝗤𝘂𝗲𝗲𝗻: The Story of an American Family, which was published posthumously in 1993. This work focused on the life of his paternal grandmother, a biracial woman who was born into slavery.

Alex Haley passed away on February 10, 1992, at the age of 70, leaving behind a legacy that continues to resonate today. His work not only transformed American literature but also played a crucial role in the broader movement to acknowledge and celebrate African American history. Haley's dedication to uncovering the truth of his heritage and sharing it with the world has inspired countless others to explore their own roots and to tell their own stories.

As we celebrate the life and legacy of Alex Haley on what would have been his 103rd birthday, we remember him not just as a writer, but as a historian, a storyteller, and a trailblazer who changed the way we understand our past. His work continues to inspire new generations to seek out the truths of their own histories and to share them with the world.

🎉 Happy Birthday, Alex Haley!🎉


゚viralシ

07/08/2024

Red Skelton was an American comedian, actor, and television personality who rose to fame in the 1940s and 1950s. He was known for his unique style of comedy, which often included physical humor, wordplay, and character sketches. Skelton's career spanned over seven decades, during which he appeared in numerous films, television shows, and stage performances.
In addition to his work in entertainment, Skelton was also a talented artist and painter. He created over 1,000 original works of art, many of which featured his iconic clown character, Freddie the Freeloader. Skelton's artwork was highly regarded in the art world, and he held several successful gallery exhibitions throughout his career.
Skelton was also a philanthropist and dedicated much of his time and resources to various charitable causes, including children's hospitals and veterans' organizations. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1985 for his contributions to both entertainment and charity.

06/08/2024

On March 26, 1917 - Rufus Thomas, Jr., was a Black American rhythm and blues, funk and soul singer and comedian who recorded on Sun Records in the 1950s and on Stax Records in the 1960s and 1970s was born in Cayce, MS, on this date in 1917.
He was the father of soul singer Carla Thomas and keyboard player Marvell Thomas. A third child, Vaneese, a former French teacher, has a recording studio in upstate New York and sings for television commercials.
Thomas attended one semester at Tennessee A&I University, but due to economic constraints left to pursue a career as a professional entertainer, joining up in 1936 with the Rabbit Foot Minstrels, an all-black r***e that toured the South.
He then worked for 22 years at a textile plant and did not leave that job until about 1963, around the time of his “Dog” hits.
He started at WDIA in 1951. At WDIA, he hosted an afternoon show called Hoot and Holler. WDIA, featuring a Black American format, was known as "the mother station of the Negroes" and became an important source of blues and R&B music for a generation, its audience consisting of white as well as black listeners.
Thomas's mentor was Nat D. Williams, a pioneer black deejay at WDIA as well as Thomas's high school history teacher, columnist for black newspapers, and host of an amateur show at Memphis's Palace Theater.
For years Thomas himself took hosting duties for the amateur show and, in that capacity, is credited with the discovery of B. B. King.
He made his professional singing debut at the Elks Club on Beale Street in Memphis, filling in for another singer at the last minute.
He made his first 78 rpm record in 1943 for the Star Talent label in Texas, "I'll Be a Good Boy", backed with "I'm So Worried." He also became a long-standing on-air personality with WDIA, one of the first radio stations in the US to feature an all-black staff and programming geared toward blacks.
His celebrity was such that in 1953 he recorded an "answer record" to Big Mama Thornton's hit, "Hound Dog" called "Bear Cat" released on Sun Records. Although the song was the label's first hit, a copyright-infringement suit ensued and nearly bankrupted Sam Phillips' record label.
Later, Rufus was one of the Black American artists released by Sam Phillips as he oriented his label more toward white audiences and signed Elvis Presley.
The prime of Rufus' recording career came in the 1960s and early 1970s, when he was on the roster of Memphis label, Stax, having one of the first hit sides at the historic soul and blues label, "Walking the Dog", in 1963.
Rufus is thus the first, and still the only, father to debut in the Hot 100's top 10 after his daughter debuted there.
Rufus' daughter Carla also reached number 10, with "Gee Whiz" on March 27, 1961. At Stax, Rufus was often backed by Booker T. and the MG's or the Bar-Kays.
The early 1970s brought him three major hits, including “Push and Pull" in 1970, his only number one R&B hit. Earlier that year, "Do the Funky Chicken" had reached number 5 R&B and number 28 Pop. A third dance-oriented release in 1971, "The Breakdown" climbed to number 2 R&B and number 31 Pop.
He had several more less successful hits until Stax closed its doors in the mid-'70s. Late in his career, for years, Rufus performed at the Porretta Soul Festival in Porretta Terme, Italy. The outdoor amphitheater in which he performed has been renamed "Rufus Thomas Park." Highlights of his career included calming an unruly crowd at the Wattstax Festival in 1972 and performing with James Brown's band.
He played an important part in the Stax reunion of 1988, and had a small role in the 1989 Jim Jarmusch film, Mystery Train. Thomas released an album of straight-ahead blues, That Woman is Poison!, with Alligator Records in 1990.
In 1996, Rufus and William Bell headlined at the Olympics in Atlanta. In 1997, Rufus released an album, Rufus Live!, on Ecko Records.
Thomas was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 2001. He was interviewed by the public radio program American Routes aired in February 2002. His last appearance was in the D.A. Pennebaker-directed documentary Only the Strong Survive (2003), in which he co-starred with his daughter Carla.

06/08/2024

National Poetry Month

Gwendolyn Elizabeth Brooks
(June 7, 1917 – December 3, 2000)
was an American poet, author, and teacher.

Her work dealt with the personal celebrations and struggles of ordinary people in her community.

She won the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry on May 1, 1950, for Annie Allen, making her the first African American to receive a Pulitzer Prize.

The Mother
A poem by Gwendolyn Brooks

Abortions will not let you forget.
You remember the children you got that you did not get,
The damp small pulps with a little or with no hair,
The singers and workers that never handled the air.
You will never neglect or beat
Them, or silence or buy with a sweet.
You will never wind up the sucking-thumb
Or scuttle off ghosts that come.
You will never leave them, controlling your luscious sigh,
Return for a snack of them, with gobbling mother-eye.

I have heard in the voices of the wind the voices of my dim killed children.
I have contracted. I have eased
My dim dears at the breasts they could never suck.
I have said, Sweets, if I sinned, if I seized
Your luck

And your lives from your unfinished reach,
If I stole your births and your names,
Your straight baby tears and your games,
Your stilted or lovely loves, your tumults, your marriages, aches, and your deaths,
If I poisoned the beginnings of your breaths,
Believe that even in my deliberateness I was not deliberate.

Though why should I whine,
Whine that the crime was other than mine?—
Since anyhow you are dead.
Or rather, or instead,
You were never made.
But that too, I am afraid,
Is faulty: oh, what shall I say, how is the truth to be said?

You were born, you had body, you died.
It is just that you never giggled or planned or cried.

Believe me, I loved you all.
Believe me, I knew you, though faintly, and I loved, I loved you
All.

Information taken from various Internet sources

05/08/2024

Respect
Remembering the great T-Bone Walker (May 28, 1910 – March 16, 1975)
T-Bone Walker isn’t the first person to play the electric guitar, the instrument most closely associated with the post war modern blues world, but he is one of the very first. He certainly was the first well known performer of the instrument. Up until T-Bone Walker in the blues field and Charlie Christian in jazz, the guitar, electric or otherwise, sat in the rhythm section of the orchestra. Soloing and single note phrasing on the instrument didn’t exist.

For Walker the world of improvisation was uncharted territory and as wide open as the Texas prairie in the 1930s. What he did with that landscape would change how people would come to appreciate the electric guitar and blues music forever. T-Bone Walker invented a language that is still in use today. He also was a soulful singer of extraordinary depth. The combination made Walker not only a popular performer in his day, but an enduring icon.

T-Bone Walker was an elegant performer who gained fame in his own time. From large dance halls in Dallas to Houston and onto Los Angeles, he was an extraordinary talent as well as innovator. He was also one of the greatest and most prolific songwriters the blues field has ever produced.

- David Mac
Photo: Evening Standard/Getty Images

05/08/2024

Millie and Christine McCoy were conjoined twins. They were born into slavery along with their mother and sold to a showman. The McCoy sisters spoke five different languages. They sang and danced. They had 3 stage names, “The Carolina Sisters”, ”The Eight Wonder of the World” and “The Two Headed Nightingale.” The twins traveled around the world performing. They overcame years of slavery, forced medical observations and forced to perform at fairs. I felt compelled to post some information about the McCoy Twins.

04/08/2024

Remembering David "Junior" Kimbrough on the day of his birth, blues musician. His best-known works are "Keep Your Hands off Her" and "All Night Long".
Kimbrough came to national attention in 1992 with his debut album, All Night Long. Robert Palmer produced the album for Fat Possum, recording it in the Chulahoma joint, with Junior's son Kent "Kinney" Kimbrough (also known as Kenny Malone) on drums and R. L. Burnside's son Garry Burnside on bass guitar. The album featured many of his most celebrated songs, including the title track, the complexly melodic "Meet Me in the City," and "You Better Run", a harrowing ballad of attempted r**e. All Night Long earned nearly unanimous praise from critics, receiving four stars in Rolling Stone. His joint in Chulahoma started to attract visitors from around the world, including members of U2, Keith Richards, and Iggy Pop. R. L. Burnside (who recorded for the same label) and the Burnside and Kimbrough families often collaborated on musical projects.
A second album for Fat Possum, Sad Days, Lonely Nights, followed in 1994. A video for the album's title track featured Kimbrough, Garry Burnside and Kent Kimbrough playing in Kimbrough's juke joint. The last album he recorded, Most Things Haven't Worked Out, was released by Fat Possum in 1997. R.I.P.

04/08/2024

B.B. King was one of the most prominent blues musicians of the 20th Century. He died in Las Vegas from complications related to diabetes on May 14, 2015 at the age of 89 but as the accompanying photo shows, his life was celebrated one final time on Beale Street in Memphis where he found fame and fortune. See his story and hear his music here https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/king-b-b-1925/.

03/08/2024

LaWanda Page [Alberta Peal]; (October 19, 1920 – September 14, 2002) was an American dancer, actress and comedian best known for her role as Esther "Aunt Esther" Anderson in the popular television sitcom Sanford and Son which originally aired from 1972 until 1977. Page later reprised this role in the short-lived television shows Sanford Arms (1976–1977) and Sanford (1980–1981).

Page was born Alberta Peal on October 19, 1920, in Cleveland, Ohio and raised in St. Louis, Missouri. She began her show business career dancing at age 15. Page later worked in small nightclubs billed as "The Bronze Goddess of Fire," an act which included Page eating fire and lighting ci******es with her fingertips.

After paying dues on the club circuit, where she shared stages with noted comedians such as Redd Foxx and Richard Pryor, Page moved to Los Angeles, California in the early 1960s where she became a member of the comedy group Skillet, Leroy & Co.

LaWanda Page and Redd Foxx (who portrayed Fred Sanford) were very close friends from the time they were pre-teens, having attended school and grown up together in St. Louis. Eventually, both entered the field of comedy separately and performed their own stage acts. During her tenure as a stand-up comic, a career she continued into the 1990s, Page often was billed as "The Queen of Comedy" or "The Black Queen of Comedy".

Page recorded several live comedy albums for the Laff Records label in the late 1960s and early 1970s under her LaWanda Page stage name. Page's albums and stand-up material were raunchy blue comedy in nature. She was one of the few women who performed extended spoken word pieces in the black signifying or toasting tradition. One release, a gold-selling album called Watch It, Sucker!, was titled after one of her Aunt Esther character's catchphrases in order to capitalize on her newfound television fame.

On Sanford and Son, Esther Anderson ("Aunt Esther") was the sister of Fred Sanford's late wife Elizabeth. Page had been performing her comedy routine in nightclubs in St. Louis and then Los Angeles for several years, but had planned to leave show business to move back to St. Louis to take care of her ailing mother. When Redd Foxx was offered a sitcom in Los Angeles, he brought his childhood friend Page to the attention to one of the show's producers, who was already familiar with Page and her act. Foxx subsequently asked Page to read for the role of Aunt Esther. She was offered the role after she auditioned. However, prior to taping, producers became concerned when Page, whose experience was limited primarily to nightclub stages, seemed to have difficulty working in a sitcom format. Eventually, one of Sanford and Son's producers told Foxx that Page would need to be fired and that another actor would need to be cast before the show could begin taping. Foxx responded by insisting that Page keep the part, even threatening to walk away from the show if Page were fired. The producers relented, and Page's Aunt Esther went on to become one of the most popular TV sitcom characters of the 1970s.

Page also appeared in several TV shows and movies, including The Love Boat, Amen, Martin, 227, Family Matters, Diff'rent Strokes, the movies Friday & Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood, and Circus Of The Stars as a fire eater.

01/08/2024

Nathaniel Adams Coles – better known as Nat "King" Cole born on March 17, 1919, conquered the pop charts in the Fifties and early Sixties as a warm-voiced singer of orchestrated ballads like “Mona Lisa” and “Unforgettable,” and breezy, countrified sing-alongs including “Ramblin’ Rose” and “Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days of Summer.” Less well known is the fact that he played a mean piano (in the style of Earl “Fatha” Hines) and led a swinging jazz trio from 1937 to 1955.

01/08/2024

Gil Scott-Heron (1949-2011)
Gil Scott-Heron was a New York City–based writer, spoken word performer, poet, and musician whose 1970s songs are known for laying the groundwork for rap music. If you have heard the phrase "The revolution will not be televised," you have heard the words of Gil Scott-Heron. While both true and timeless, it's the title of Scott-Heron's poem that depicted the disconnected relationship between television/media representation and demonstrations in the street. He has been called the "godfather of rap," and his music and words have been sampled by rappers like Common and Kendrick Lamar. Even if you haven't heard of him, his work may sound more familiar than you think. One of his most famous pieces is "Wh**ey on the Moon" where he criticizes America's interest in space taking precedence over the well-being of African American citizens.

30/07/2024

Today, we are familiar with basketball stars such as Shaquille O’Neal, Charles Barkley, Dominique Wilkins, and Anthony Davis, but those men may never have been well-known had it not been for Perry Wallace. Perry Wallace is remembered as the first African-American athlete to play on an athletic scholarship in the Southeastern Conference (SEC).

In high school, Wallace’s talent had been evident on and off the court as an All-American basketball player who led his team to the state title in the first ever integrated state tournament in Tennessee. Wallace also was named the Valedictorian of his high school graduating class.

After high school, Wallace attended Vanderbilt University, where he continued to excel. Despite the many instances of racism that he experienced from opposing players and crowds in the Deep South, Wallace kept his composure, never lowering his standard of excellence in spite of the difficult circumstances. In 1967, when the NCAA banned dunking, many felt that the committee had unfairly targeted black athletes, who could increasingly be found on NCAA teams. Despite the rule changes, Wallace altered his game to fit the new rules, and by his senior year, he averaged over 17 points and 13 rebounds. Against Mississippi State in the final game of his career, he scored 29 points and hauled in 27 rebounds; notably making his last two points on a slam dunk that the referees allowed to stand despite the dunking rule change.

Wallace not only broke the color barrier for African-American athletes in the SEC, but he also went on to have a very successful law career. After graduating from Vanderbilt with an engineering degree, Wallace attended Columbia Law School and graduated in 1975. He served as an attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice and later became Professor of Law at the American University in 1993, where he served until his death in 2017.

Wallace’s life is a textbook example of overcoming adversity. He later alluded to the loneliness that he had felt as one of the few African-Americans on campus, whether it be from students who meant well or from the blatantly racist students and faculty. Wallace’s personal sacrifice paved the way for future SEC basketball stars such as the University of Georgia’s Dominique Wilkins, Auburn’s Charles Barkley, LSU’s Shaquille O’Neal, and Kentucky’s Anthony Davis.

27/07/2024

George Gervin: The Iceman Cometh - A Legend of Basketball Finesse
George Gervin, nicknamed "The Iceman" for his cool demeanor and clutch shooting, was a force to be reckoned with in the American Basketball Association (ABA) and the National Basketball Association (NBA). Here's a deeper dive into his remarkable career:
Early Life and Basketball Beginnings (1952-1972):
Born in Detroit, Michigan in 1952, Gervin displayed a natural talent for basketball from a young age.
He honed his skills on local courts, developing his signature smooth shooting style and finger roll.
After excelling in high school, Gervin attended Eastern Michigan University, where he averaged over 25 points per game during his senior year.
Despite his scoring prowess, Gervin went undrafted in the 1972 NBA Draft. However, the Virginia Squires of the ABA saw his potential and drafted him in the third round.
ABA Stardom: The Arrival of "The Iceman" (1972-1976):
The ABA provided Gervin with the perfect platform to showcase his scoring prowess.
He quickly established himself as a dominant force, averaging over 30 points per game in his first season with the Squires.
Gervin's smooth shooting, combined with his agility and creativity on the court, captivated audiences. His ability to score from anywhere on the court earned him the nickname "The Iceman" due to his calm demeanor and seemingly effortless ex*****on.
He won four ABA scoring titles throughout his career, establishing himself as one of the league's most prolific scorers.
The NBA Merger and San Antonio Spurs: A New Era (1976-1985):
When the ABA merged with the NBA in 1976, Gervin became a prize catch for several teams. He ultimately landed with the San Antonio Spurs, a franchise forever linked to his legacy.
Gervin continued his scoring dominance in the NBA, winning four more scoring titles. He formed a formidable duo with center Artis Gilmore, leading the Spurs to several playoff appearances.
Despite the lack of an NBA championship, Gervin's electrifying play helped solidify the Spurs' fan base and establish them as a force to be reckoned with in the Western Conference.
Beyond Scoring: A Complete Player:
While Gervin is primarily remembered for his scoring ability, he was a well-rounded player.
He possessed excellent court vision and passing skills, often creating scoring opportunities for his teammates.
Gervin was also a tenacious defender, utilizing his quickness and anticipation to disrupt passing lanes and force turnovers.
Legacy: A Hall of Famer and Basketball Icon (1985-Present):
After a brief stint with the Chicago Bulls, Gervin retired from professional basketball in 1990.
He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1996, a testament to his enduring impact on the game.
Gervin's influence extends beyond statistics and accolades. He inspired a generation of young players with his smooth shooting style and dedication to the game.
His signature finger roll is still imitated by players today, a reminder of his lasting impact on basketball.
Interesting Facts and Trivia:
George Gervin holds the NBA record for most points scored in a quarter with 33 points, achieved in 1978.
He remains the only player in NBA history to win four scoring titles in both the ABA and NBA.
Gervin's iconic afro hairstyle and flamboyant on-court demeanor made him a cultural icon during his playing career.
George Gervin's legacy transcends basketball. He is a symbol of athletic excellence, dedication, and pure joy for the game. "The Iceman" continues to inspire players and fans alike with his smooth shooting and unwavering cool under pressure. 😍😍

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