Before Bruce Hornsby ever became a legendary songwriter and pianist, he thought basketball might be his future.
In this clip, Bruce talks about growing up as a multi-sport athlete, being recruited to play Division II basketball, and how music slowly, then suddenly, took over his life. From idolizing Knicks legends like Bill Bradley and Walt Frazier to discovering Elton John and Leon Russell, this is the moment where everything shifted and led to him playing with the Grateful Dead on tour.
It’s a rare look at the fork in the road: hoops or piano, gym or stage, fast breaks or chord changes.
Bruce also breaks down how he learned music by ear, why relative pitch mattered more than perfection, and how falling in love with the piano became a lifelong obsession. It's lasted more than 50 years.
A great reminder that even legends almost chose a completely different path.
#music #gratefuldead #podcast #interview #sports
👉 New episodes every Tuesday