 For many years,
John Tesh went virtually unrecognized as a musician and composer, instead
enjoying television success as the co-host of the nightly showbiz news magazine
Entertainment Tonight; while his initial attempts to mount a recording career
were met with scorn and ridicule, he enjoyed the last laugh on his detractors,
rising to become one of new age instrumental music's biggest superstars. Born
July 9, 1952 in Long Island, New York,
John Tesh began playing piano at the age of six; as a teen, he also played organ
and trombone with local rock bands. After graduating North Carolina State
University with a degree in music and communications,
John Tesh worked at a progression of television stations throughout the
southeastern U.S., later graduating to the position of anchor at the CBS
network's New York City affiliate. In 1981, he joined CBS Sports as a
commentator, where he later won Emmy Awards for his Pan American Games theme and
the theme to the Tour de France.
In 1986,
John Tesh left CBS to host the syndicated Entertainment Tonight with co-anchor
Mary Hart; while television remained his primary focus, he continued writing
and performing music, and in 1988 issued his first album, Tour de France.
Critics panned his brand of melodramatic, orchestral new age music, but the
success of further efforts including 1989's Garden City proved a growing
audience existed for his work. In 1991,
John Tesh won another pair of Emmys for his music for NBC Sports' coverage of the
World Track and Field Championships; a year later, he formed his own label, GTS,
and issued Romantic Christmas, his biggest hit to date. Smashes including 1993's
Monterey Nights and 1994's Sax by the Fire followed, and in 1995
John Tesh's PBS special and album Live at Red Rocks emerged as something of a
phenomenon. He soon left Entertainment Tonight to focus all of his energies on
music, scoring successive hits with the likes of 1996's Sax on the Beach and its
1997 follow-up, Sax All Night. Grand Passion followed in early 1998, trailed a
year later by One World and John Tesh & Friends. Pure Hymns was issued in fall
2000 and Pure Orchestra and Pure Gospel followed in early 2001.
Classical Music for Babies (And Their Moms), Vol. 2 appeared later that
spring. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide
Contact Grabow for more information or to book
John Tesh for your next corporate or private event.
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