Today, February 16th

WILT CHAMBERLAIN THE 1ST TO REACH 30,000 POINTS ON THIS DAY IN 1972. Just how amazing was the Lakers’ center? At the time, no other NBA player had scored 25,000 points—and only five had reached 20,000. In retirement, Chamberlain became notorious for another feat—making the claim in his 1991 book, “A View from Above” that he had slept with more than 20,000 women during his lifetime. True or not, it can’t distract from his amazing array of career stats:

1,045 pro games with an average of 30.1 points-per-game
The points-per-game record holder (until Michael Jordan broke it in 1998)
1st to rack up more than 4,000 points in a season
1st to score 100 points in a game—and his record for most points in one game STILL stands today!

The 7’ 1” Chamberlain disliked his “Wilt the Stilt” nickname (given him in high school by a local reporter), preferring "The Big Dipper" (his friends’ allusion to Wilt’s need to duck when walking through doors). But whatever you call him, Chamberlain’s taking the game to new heights was about a lot more than just stature.

“The Dipper” is only 1 of 7 players to reach the 30,000 mark:

1. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 38,387

2. Karl Malone 36,928

3. Lebron James 33,817

4. Kobe Bryant 33,643

5. Michael Jordan 32,292

6. Dirk Nowitzki 31,560

7. Wilt Chamberlain 31,419

WATCH “COUNT BASIE - THROUGH HIS OWN EYES” ON PBS, (1:30PM). Jazz and documentary fans alike will love this unprecedented portrait of the “King of the Swing Kings”—told in Basie’s own words.

The private side of a very public career that saw Basie become the first African-American to win a Grammy

Little was known about the world-famous bandleader’s private and family life. But thanks to a treasure-trove of intimate home movies, photo albums and letters uncovered by director Jeremy Marre—plus interviews with friends like Quincy Jones and Annie Ross—we discover the private passions and ambitions that drove Basie’s fabled career. From his remarkable relationship with wife Catherine (a civil-rights pioneer who worked alongside Martin Luther King) and disabled daughter, Diane (“the hidden core of his creative life”) to rare performances with Sinatra and Billie Holiday, we see the private and public faces of the man who became a unique link between jazz and the nation’s turbulent social history. See preview here.

“Count Basie—Through His Own Eyes,” Sunday, February 16th, 1:30PM on PBS. Visit thirteen.org for additional air times.

FEBRUARY 16th FIGURES PROMINENTLY IN BEATLES’ HISTORY. On this day in 1963, "Please, Please Me" topped the British rock charts. Their 2nd appearance on “The Ed Sullivan Show” was exactly a year later. And on February 16th, 1968, George, John and their wives flew to India to study with the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.

For die-hard fans, today is ALSO your chance to see the celebrated tribute group Strawberry Fields, whose legendary "Beatles Brunch” has moved to Iridium after 18 consecutive years at the recently closed BB King’s. With vintage instrumentation and amplification creating an authentic audio experience—and a menu that includes “The George Harrison” (a black bean/avocado sandwich with fries)—these four original cast members of Broadway’s “Beatlemania” offer a unique brunch option for music fans. Listen to a sample here.

The Iridium NYC, 1650 Broadway (at 51st Street).

Sunday Brunch: February 16th and 23rd, March 1, 8th, 15th and 22nd, 12:00PM (Doors open at 11:00AM); Evening: Wednesday, March 18, 8:30PM (Doors open at 7:30PM).

Get tickets here or visit theiridium.com

Jason McKeeFebruary 16, 2020