Fresno State Athletics
Edwards Fulfilling Music Dream
1/6/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 6, 2009
FRESNO, Calif. - When she was about 11 years old, Fresno State forward Taja Edwards had to make a tough decision -- pursue basketball and the possibility of a college scholarship or follow her dream with her music.
Although it was a difficult choice, she opted for the hardwood over the keyboard. But seven years later, a basketball scholarship allowed her a chance to gain an education that will lead to a career in music.
Edwards, now a sophomore, is majoring in Sociology with a minor in Music. And after her playing days are over, she plans on going to a producing school and becoming a producer and a songwriter.
The dilemma between basketball and music began because her choir practice and basketball practice were both Tuesday night, and she had to choose. Despite singing in her church choir since she was three years old, she decided she wanted to play basketball instead.
But it wasn't a smooth start for Edwards' hoops career.
"I couldn't even do a layup," Edwards said.
However it didn't take long for her to pick it up. Within a year she was moved up from the seventh grade team to the eight grade team, and she was starting to realize there was a legitimate future for her as a basketball player.
She joined a traveling basketball team and she was starting to get the attention of college coaches.
Her dad, who loved basketball and was a major influence in her decision, helped her make the most of her decision. And the two, spent hours working on her game.
But the time commitment came with a price.
"My dad bought me a basketball and I had a keyboard in my room, but I slowly faded away from that, and picked up a basketball everyday," Edwards said.
She became so devoted to basketball she even gave away her prized keyboard.
"My parents said it wasn't no use sitting in my room," Edwards said.
And she never touched the keyboard or piano for years, her traveling squad teammates never even knew she could play. However her love for music never left her.
"It (her passion for music) was always there, it was just a matter of what was in front of me at the time," Edwards said. "But when I was in my room, I was always singing and dancing, or just listening to music until I fell asleep."
As instrumental as her father was in your basketball career, he also was part of her musical influence also.
"He'll tell you he started hip-hop," Edwards said. "That's what he says. Kind of he did ... it started in the south Bronx, and that's where he's from. He knew Slick Rick, Biz Markie, KRS-One and all those people."
Her mother also influenced her by getting her singing in the church choir at such a young age.
These days she mostly plays the guitar and piano, but she shys away from singing.
"I used to when I was little, I thought I could," Edwards said.
Although she doesn't claim to have a great singing voice, that doesn't keep her from writing songs. And she never has to look very far to find a willing vocalist.
"Everybody on this team thinks they can sing," Edwards said.
But she conceded some of her teammates actually are pretty good singers, particularly forward Joh-Teena Filipe and guard LaToya Brown.
During this Thanksgiving's basketball trip to Dallas, she was able to join Filipe, Brown and some of her other teammates and perform in front of assistant coach Brett Frank's family during the visit to Texas.
She also has an uncle who is a producer, and worked with him in his studio to lay down a track.
She describes her music as a blend between R&B, pop and rock, and she wants to produce some of her own music in addition to other artists'. But all that must wait until her basketball career is complete.
"Join the State - Fresno State!" - The `Dogs continue home play at the Save Mart Center on Thursday, January 8 as they battle Hawai'i at 7:00 pm. It's Thursday Night at the Save Mart Center and all Fresno State and Fresno Unified School District faculty and staff can receive $2 tickets with presentation of their ID (limit 4 tickets) at the Save Mart Center box office. Tickets are on sale now through the Save Mart Center box office, by calling (559) 485-TIXS or online at ticketmaster.com.
