Ask American Profile

Bobby Jones, Gail Russel, Amy Grant and Vince Gill

Bobby Jones played basketball with the Philadelphia 76ers from the late ’70s to 1986. What has he been doing since his basketball days? Does he do charity work?
—Wallace N., North Dakota

After retiring from the 76ers in 1986, four-time NBA All-Star Bobby Jones returned to his hometown of Charlotte, N.C., going to work at Charlotte Christian School, where he has been on staff since 1988, holding various positions. He currently is assistant athletics director and runs the school’s summer camp program. Jones is active in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, speaking at FCA events, as well as Epilepsy Association functions. He and his wife of 27 years, Tess, have three children. Jones built a powerful reputation as a defender during his professional basketball career. Drafted out of the University of North Carolina in 1973 by the ABA’s Carolina Cougars, he joined the Denver Nuggets when Carolina folded. Jones played in the ABA until four teams, of which Denver was one, merged with the NBA in 1976. After being traded to Philadelphia in 1978, he was positioned as the team’s indispensable sixth man, earning the first-ever NBA Sixth Man Award and playing a role in the team’s 1983 NBA Championship effort. Philadelphia retired Jones’ number 24 in 1986.

Gail Russell was a popular actress in the 1940s. Is she still alive?
—Robert M., Texas

The beautiful actress, best known for starring opposite John Wayne in Angel and the Badman, died in 1961 at 36. Russell was born in Chicago and moved to California when she was 14. Eventually, her beauty caught the eye of talent scouts at Paramount Pictures, who signed her to a studio contract soon after she graduated from high school. With no experience as an actress, she starred in her first movie, Henry Aldrich Gets Glamour, at age 19. In 1944, she had her first hit, Our Hearts Were Young and Gay, based on a popular novel of the time. From then on she worked regularly, until leaving Paramount in 1950.

I’d like to congratulate Amy Grant and Vince Gill on the birth of their daughter. I understand that Amy was in the process of recording a new album. When will it be released, and what will it sound like? Also, will she be touring?
—Rich F., Pennsylvania

The couple welcomed Corrina Grant Gill into the world March 12 of this year. Grant definitely has been hard at work on her next album, tentatively scheduled for release in late winter or early spring 2002. As yet untitled, the A&M Records release promises to offer an upbeat, “real poppy” sound, according to Grant’s management. It hasn’t been decided yet if she’ll tour in support of the new album, though she and Gill were on the road from Nov. 30 to Dec. 16 with their wildly popular holiday show, A Christmas to Remember. Born in Augusta, Ga., Grant grew up in Nashville, Tenn. By 16, she had released her first contemporary Christian album. Grant has sold around 20 million records worldwide, won five Grammy Awards and 18 Dove Awards.

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