John Tesh

John Tesh
Background information
Birth nameJohn Frank Tesh Jr.
Born (1952-07-09) July 9, 1952 (age 74)
Garden City, New York, U.S.
GenresPop, contemporary worship, 20th-century classical music
Occupation(s)Composer, musician, radio host, news anchor, sportscaster
InstrumentsPiano, keyboards
Websitetesh.com

John Frank Tesh Jr. (born July 9, 1952) is an American musician and radio and television presenter. He wrote the NBA on NBC basketball theme "Roundball Rock". He hosts the Intelligence for Your Life radio show and Intelligence for Your Life TV with his wife, Connie Sellecca, since 2014.

Tesh has won six Emmys and has four gold albums, two Grammy nominations, and an Associated Press award for investigative journalism. Tesh has sold over eight million records. His live concerts have raised more than $7 million for PBS. He has co-hosted the television program Entertainment Tonight. He worked as a sports commentator and host for the Olympic Games, Wimbledon, the US Open, the Tour de France, Ironman Triathlon, and as a news anchor and reporter. In 2018, Tesh became part of the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame.

Early life

Tesh was born in Garden City, New York, on Long Island. He is the son of Mildred (Bunny) and John Frank Tesh Sr. He graduated from Garden City High School in 1970. He started playing piano and trumpet at six years old. He was named to the New York State Symphonic Orchestra in high school, while playing the organ in a rock band. Tesh studied communications and music at North Carolina State University.

Tesh started reading the news for Rick Dees at WKIX (AM) Raleigh in 1974. His roommate, Bill Leslie, was an anchor at WRAL-TV and helped him get into the radio and TV field. Tesh worked as a news anchor in Raleigh, Orlando, Nashville, and New York's WCBS-TV for 12 years.

Personal life

Tesh has been married to Connie Sellecca since 1992. They have one daughter called Prima. His wife also has a son with actor Gil Gerard, named Gib, and he is sometimes on Tesh's radio and TV programs. Tesh and Sellecca live in Los Angeles. In the 1970s, he dated Oprah Winfrey for a short time.

Tesh is a Christian. He was raised a Baptist and was involved in the church as a child.[source?] He played organ, sang in the choir, and went to church camp. He has written and performed Christian music.

Discography

Studio albums

Live albums

Compilations and collections

Singles

Other albums

Videography

References

  1. 1 2 Ketcham, Diane (July 7, 1996). "About Long Island; John Tesh Proves You Can Go Home Again -- to Garden City". The New York Times. Retrieved July 10, 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 "John Tesh and Connie Sellecca". Radioink.com. April 27, 2016. Retrieved February 26, 2017.
  3. ↑ "Entertainment Tonight's Laid-Back John Tesh Has a Flip Side: He's a Composer Who's Driven to Score". People.
  4. ↑ "Bonnie Tesh Lillis, 71, lived in Bridgewater". Ct Insider. November 13, 2012. Archived from the original on November 29, 2021. Retrieved October 6, 2025.
  5. ↑ Bio at Crossmap.com Archived October 27, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
  6. ↑ "John Tesh". WRAL-FM. Archived from the original on August 13, 2012. Retrieved August 14, 2012.
  7. ↑ "John Tesh says it's true: He and Oprah dated". April 13, 2010. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
  8. ↑ "John Tesh Discusses His Faith and Music". Transcripts.cnn.com. Cable News Network. April 11, 2000. Archived from the original on December 15, 2012. Retrieved August 14, 2012.
  9. ↑ "A Thousand Summers - John Tesh | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic.
  10. ↑ "You Break It - John Tesh | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic.
  11. ↑ "Backstage with John Tesh - John Tesh | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic.
  12. ↑ "Drive Time Intelligence, Vol. 1 - John Tesh | User Reviews". AllMusic.

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