Earth, Wind & Fire to tip off basketball at JPJ
With the opening of the John Paul Jones Arena, UVA hopes to see its fair share of hoops luminaries pass through its doors playing for the Cavaliers in the next several decades. What better way to get the new era started than with the band whose #1 hit was called “Shining Star”?
That’s right, funkophiles. Earth, Wind & Fire is coming to town as part of a special “Countdown to Tip-Off” event for men’s and women’s basketball season ticket holders and those who bought into five and six game ticket packages. The concert will happen at the John Paul Jones Arena on November 11, the night before UVA plays its first games at “the Jack.”
“This event is a great way to say thank you to our fans who have made a commitment to support our basketball programs,” says UVA Associate Athletic Director Jon Oliver.
The set from Earth, Wind & Fire will be preceded by opening act Wayman Tisdale, a former forward for the NBA Sacramento Kings who for nine years has enjoyed a second career as a jazz bassist.
Known for hits like “September,” “After the Love Has Gone,” “Star,” “Let’s Groove,” “Boogie Wonderland,” “Shining Star,” and “That’s the Way of the World,” Earth, Wind & Fire was one of the biggest hitmakers of the ’70s and early ’80s. With eight #1 singles on the Billboard R&B charts, the metallic-suited, many-membered group sold over 75 million records worldwide.
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“Many-membered”? That makes it sound like they have a bunch of penises. Which, being a mostly (totally) male group, I suppose they do… :)