John Tesh Discography

Related Artists

Songs By

Harry Simeone :: Henry Onorati :: Katherine Davis :: Charlie Bisharat :: Carter Cathcart :: Michael Hanna :: James Ingram :: Richard Storrs Willis :: Will Jennings :: Johann Bach :: Frederick Oakeley

Influenced By

Yanni :: George Winston

Similar Artists

Kenny G. :: Stephen Marq :: Marti Pellow :: Jim Brickman :: Mars Lasar :: Lorie Line :: Liz Story :: David Arkenstone :: David Lanz

See also Biography Index (J) :: Filmography Index (J) :: Discography Index (J)

John Frank Tesh (born July 9, 1952) is an American pianist and composer of new age and contemporary Christian music, selling 7 million records. He is also a nationally syndicated radio host (John Tesh Radio Show-360 stations), and has previously served as a sportscaster for the Olympic Games, news anchor and reporter. Besides playing keyboards(including the piano), he also plays the trumpet and sings. He is also known as the long time host of the television program Entertainment Tonight. Tesh has won 6 music Emmys, has 4 gold albums, 2 Grammy nominations and an Associated Press award for investigative journalism. His Live concerts have raised more than $20 million for PBS. He was born in Garden City, New York on Long Island, and graduated from Garden City High School in 1970. Playing piano and trumpet from the age of 6, he studied with teachers from The Juilliard School and was named to the New York State Symphonic Orchestra in high school, while also playing the organ in a rock band.[1] Tesh studied communications and music at North Carolina State University graduating in 1975. While at NC State, he was initiated into Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity. While in the area, Tesh worked as a news anchor at WTVD in Durham, North Carolina. After graduation, Tesh went to Orlando, Florida to take a television position at WFTV.

His television career included a stint as a news anchor and reporter at WSM-TV in Nashville, Tennessee in the 1970s, where he often covered the same stories as Oprah Winfrey who worked at a competing Nashville station. He shuffled from Nashville to Raleigh to Orlando and finally to New York`s WCBS where, at age 23, he was their youngest reporter. He later hosted the television show Entertainment Tonight from 1986 to 1996. In 1987, Yanni was putting together his first touring band to promote his album Out of Silence, as well as selections from Keys to Imagination. Being good friends, Tesh asked Yanni if he could join the band as keyboardist along with Joyce Imbesi and drummer Charlie Adams, as he`d never been onstage for a live performance and needed the experience. Despite already having a full time job with Entertainment Tonight, and the long hours of rehearsal for the band, he did very well, although he did only one tour with Yanni, about 12 shows including the "1988 Concert Series", before being replaced by Bradley Joseph. Later, Yanni helped Tesh get his first recording contract with Private Music. In the 1990s, John Tesh has been credited with the theme music to Bobby`s World, hosted by Howie Mandel, and the NBA on NBC theme, known as Roundball Rock.

After Tesh left his 10-year job as co-host for Entertainment Tonight in 1996, he turned his career as a contemporary keyboardist. This led to him starting The John Tesh Radio Show in 2003. In 2008, he will put out a piano gospel dance DVD. It combines Tesh`s music, big gospel choirs and hip-hop dance.

Tesh, who is a born-again Christian, first married Julie Wright in 1982; they divorced in 1991. John left his job at Entertainment Tonight after hearing Tony Evans speak at a Promise Keepers event. He is currently married to Connie Sellecca, and they have a daughter, Prima, together. Tesh is a regular church attender.