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Tony D'Amelio

By: Tony D'Amelio on August 4th, 2016

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Grateful Dead spin-off nets Bill Walton on drums

Motivation | Leadership

NBA great BILL WALTON plays drums with Grateful Dead spin-off Dead & Company last week “Grateful Red”
NBA great BILL WALTON plays drums with Grateful Dead spin-off Dead & Company last week

 

BILL WALTON JOINS GRATEFUL DEAD SPIN-OFF  ON DRUMS

Grateful Dead spin-off Dead & Company had a surprise guest at the finale concert for their 2016 summer tour.  NBA legend BILL WALTON joined the group on stage in Mountain View, CA to help the band for “Drums” during the second set.  The moment was caught on video: 

Bill Walton Dead and Company

There was lots of media coverage of the moment (here’s just one article).  It was just one of 16 shows that Bill saw during the band's 24-date tour.  Arguably the world's biggest fan - in all he’s seen the Grateful Dead more than 800 times – and that doesn’t count the side projects and spin-offs by the various members of the band, like Dead & Company.
 

STILL MAKING TIME TO INSPIRE AND MOTIVATE AUDIENCES


In spite of his rabid love for the Grateful Dead and a heavy basketball broadcast schedule, Bill still makes time to do a full schedule of talks each year.  Here’s a great testimonial from last month’s talk at the Baylor Orthopedic & Spine Hospital of Arlington, TX:

“Without a pun, you are larger than life.  Rarely have I had the pleasure of talking and sharing with someone as forthcoming as you displayed.  And, it is even rarer to find a celebrity who is willing to give of his time so graciously.  You deserve respect for all your achievements and maintaining a sense of civility – keeping down to earth and all things
in perspective.”  
 --Dr. Joseph Berman, M.D. , Baylor Orthopedic & Spine Hospital of Arlington

And then there was this great review from an event in Chicago for Microsoft:

“Things went remarkably well last night.  Bill is an absolute legend . . . just an incredibly kind, giving man . . . the last celebrity in the room . . . actually among the last few people in the room period . . . when the event finished.  Making tons of incredible memories for attendees.”
– Jeff Jacobson Agency, which booked this event for Microsoft

Bill Walton is one of the true treasures of the sports world -- a man who always gives more than he takes -- someone who deeply appreciates that fans line up to shake his hand, get an autograph, and take a picture.  And - his speeches are positively inspiring.
 

About Tony D'Amelio

Tony has spent his career putting talented people and audiences together, first in the music business and later representing the world's leading speakers. After concluding 27 years as Executive Vice President of the Washington Speakers Bureau, Tony launched D'Amelio Network, a boutique firm that manages the speaking activities of a select group of experts on business, management, politics and current events. Clients include: Mike Abrashoff, Vernice "FlyGirl" Armour, Mariana Atencio, Chris Barton, Geoff Colvin, Daryl Davis, Suneel Gupta, Ron Insana, Katty Kay, Polly LaBarre, Nicole Malachowski, Ken Schmidt, Bill Walton, and Bob Woodward.

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