Two Careers, One Passion: Athletes Who Made Music Professionally

Sports and composition may seem like very different worlds. Athletes train their bodies, while composers work with sounds and musical ideas. But both require practice, patience, focus, and creativity.

Some professional athletes did more than enjoy music as a hobby. They wrote their own songs, composed instrumental music, or created full albums. Some were already composing while they were still competing, while others turned more seriously to composition after long sports careers.

Their stories show that being an athlete does not mean leaving creativity behind.

Pelé, Football Player and Composer

Pelé (1940 to 2022, Brazil) was one of the most famous football players in history, but he was also a songwriter and composer.

While playing professional football for Santos, Pelé often spent time in team hotels writing songs and playing guitar. He later said that he had written hundreds of songs during his life, sometimes creating the lyrics, the melody, or both.

In 2006, he released the album Pelé Ginga. All 12 songs on the album were original compositions by Pelé. Some of his music had also been recorded by Brazilian singers years earlier.

Pelé’s story shows that even while competing at the highest level of sports, there can still be room to create music.

Mike Reid, Football Player and Composer

Mike Reid (born 1947, United States) was a professional football player, pianist, singer, songwriter, and composer.

Reid studied music at Penn State University, but he was also an outstanding football player. He later joined the Cincinnati Bengals and became an NFL All-Pro.

After leaving professional football, Reid decided to focus on music. He became a highly successful songwriter and composer, writing more than 30 Top 10 country and pop hits. His works include I Can’t Make You Love Me and the Grammy winning Stranger in My House. He also composed music for dance and concert performances.

For Reid, football came first professionally, but music eventually became an entirely new career.

Wayman Tisdale, Basketball Player and Jazz Composer

Wayman Tisdale (1964 to 2009, United States) was a professional basketball player, jazz bassist, and composer.

Tisdale played 12 seasons in the NBA with the Indiana Pacers, Sacramento Kings, and Phoenix Suns. Music had been one of his interests since childhood, and near the end of his basketball career he began recording professionally.

In 1995, while he was still an NBA player, he released his first jazz album, Power Forward. He later recorded many more albums and received composer credits on works including In the Zone, Decisions, and Face to Face.

Tisdale is a strong example of sports and composition overlapping rather than one simply replacing the other.

Bernie Williams, Baseball Player and Composer

Bernie Williams (born 1968, Puerto Rico and United States) was a professional baseball player, guitarist, and composer.

Williams spent his entire Major League Baseball career with the New York Yankees. He had also studied music from childhood and attended the Escuela Libre de Música in Puerto Rico.

While he was still playing for the Yankees, Williams released his first album, The Journey Within, in 2003. He played guitar and composed 7 of the album’s songs, including Para Don Berna, Desvelado, and Just Because.

Williams shows that even during a major professional sports career, composition can continue to grow.

Alexi Lalas, Football Player and Composer

Alexi Lalas (born 1970, United States) is a former professional football player, guitarist, singer, and composer.

Lalas played for the United States national team and became the first American to play in Italy’s Serie A. Music was also an important part of his life while he was playing football.

In a 2020 interview with Guitar World, Lalas said that he had always thought of himself as a performer, as an athlete and a musician. When asked whether he would rather score a goal or write a great song, he chose writing a great song.

While still a professional athlete, Lalas also wrote and recorded his own music. His 1998 album Ginger lists him as a composer, performer, and producer.

His story shows that sports and composition can grow side by side, even during a demanding professional athletic career.

Jacques Villeneuve, Racing Driver and Songwriter

Jacques Villeneuve (born 1971, Canada) is a racing driver, guitarist, singer, and songwriter.

Villeneuve won the Indianapolis 500 and IndyCar championship in 1995 and became the Formula One World Champion in 1997.

His music developed during his racing career. Villeneuve said that he bought a guitar when he entered Formula One in 1996 and began writing songs. He later released the 13 track album Private Paradise. Villeneuve wrote 6 songs himself and co-wrote another with his sister.

His story is especially interesting because the songwriting began while he was racing at the highest level of motorsport.

Eric Heitmann, Football Player and Orchestral Composer

Eric Heitmann (born 1980, United States) is a former professional football player and orchestral composer.

Heitmann played center for the San Francisco 49ers after playing college football at Stanford. His NFL career included 119 games.

But Heitmann had also started writing cinematic music when he was a teenager. He put music aside while pursuing professional football and returned to composition after his NFL career.

Today, he writes orchestral, cinematic, and ambient music. His works include Requiem, Ascent, and Moonlit Echoes, which have received nominations from instrumental and classical music organizations.

Heitmann’s story shows that a creative interest can wait during one demanding career and later become a serious second path.