History of the Sounds

The Memphis Sounds were an American professional sports franchise that played in Memphis, Tennessee from 1970 until 1975 as a member of the American Basketball Association.

It soon became apparent that the Tams were not high on the list of Finley's priorities. Amenities like programs began to disappear, and morale suffered as players began to wonder if they would receive paychecks and if they would clear the bank when they did. After two seasons of this, the ABA stepped in and took control of the team. ABA Commissioner Mike Storen resigned his position with the league to take over the operation and run the team in Memphis.

Storen lined up several notable local figures as co-owners of the new team including musician Isaac Hayes and Holiday Inn founder Kemmons Wilson. Storen named the new team the Memphis Sounds and developed a new red and white color scheme and logo.

Storen cleared out the former Tams roster and brought in veteran players such as Mel Daniels, Freddie Lewis, Roger Brown, Chuck Williams, Collis Jones, George Carter, Rick Mount, and Julius Keye. The only player who had played for the Tams who appeared in uniform for the Sounds was Larry Finch, a local favorite because he had played college basketball at Memphis State University.

The Sounds, coached by Joe Mullaney, finished the 1974–75 season with a record of 27–57, which was good for fourth place in the Eastern Division and a spot in the 1975 ABA Playoffs. Unfortunately for the Sounds, their first-round opponent was the Kentucky Colonels, who had won the Eastern Division and defeated the Sounds 4 games to 1 (the one win being the only playoff-game victory in the franchise's tenure) en route to winning the 1975 ABA Championship.

Established
1967

City
New Orleans – Memphis – Baltimore

League History
1967 – 1975 / American Basketball Association

Team History
1975 / Baltimore Claws (Only Played three exhibition Game)
1974 – 1975 / Memphis Sounds
1972 – 1974 / Memphis Tams
1970 – 1972 / Memphis Pros
1967 – 1970 / New Orleans Buccaneers

Nickname
Sounds – This nickname is about the music scene in Memphis called “Sounds.”

Championship
ABA Championships 0

Arena
*Emmitsburg, Maryland (Baltimore)*
1975 / St. Mary’s College

*Memphis*
1970 – 1975 / Mid-South Coliseum

*New Orleans*
1969 – 1970 / Tulane Gym
1967 – 1969 / Loyola Field House

Owner
1975 / American Basketball Association Office
1972 – 1975 / Charles O. Finley
1970 – 1972 / P. W. Blake
1967 – 1970 / Morton Downey, Jr., Charles G. Smither and 5 other Owners

Coaches
1974 – 1975 / Joe Mullaney
1972 – 1973 / Bob Bass
1967 – 1972 / Babe McCarthy

*Blue is this team’s history