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

  • 1987: Music from the Tour de France, Vol. I (Tesh Music BMI)
  • 1988: Tour de France (Private Music)
  • 1989: Garden City (Cypress)
  • 1992: A Romantic Christmas (Decca)
  • 1992: Ironman Triathlon (GTSP)
  • 1992: Music in the Key of Love (GTSP)
  • 1992: The Games (GTSP)
  • 1993: Monterey Nights (GTSP)
  • 1993: Winter Song (GTSP) 1994: (Decca)
  • 1994: A Family Christmas (Decca)
  • 1994: Sax by the Fire (Decca)
  • 1995: Sax on the Beach (Decca)
  • 1996: Discovery (Decca)
  • 1996: Choirs of Christmas (GTSP)
  • 1997: Avalon (Decca)
  • 1997: Sax All Night (Decca)
  • 1998: Grand Passion (GTSP)
  • 1998: Guitar by the Fire (Decca)
  • 1998: Songs from the Road (BMG)
  • 1998: Pure Movies (GTSP)
  • 1999: One World (GTSP)
  • 1999: John Tesh & Friends (Columbia River)
  • 2000: Pure Hymns (Faith MD)
  • 2000: Pure Movies, Vol. 2 (Garden City)
  • 2001: Pure Orchestra (Garden City)
  • 2001: Pure Gospel (Faith MD)
  • 2001: Classical Music for an Intimate Mood (Garden City)
  • 2001: Classical Music for a Stress-Free World (Garden City)
  • 2001: Classical Music for Babies (and Their Moms) Vol. 1 & 2 (Garden City)
  • 2001: Classical Music for a Prayerful Mood (Garden City & Faith MD)
  • 2002: Awesome God (Garden City)
  • 2002: The Power of Love (Garden City)
  • 2002: Christmas Worship (Word)
  • 2002: A Deeper Faith (Garden City)
  • 2002: God of Wonders (Garden City)
  • 2002: Worship God (Garden City)
  • 2003: A Deeper Faith, Vol. 2 (Garden City)
  • 2007: A Passionate Life (Garden City)
  • 2008: Grand Piano Christmas (Garden City)
  • 2009: Grand Piano Worship (Garden City)
  • 2010: Grand Piano Romance (Garden City)
  • 2011: Big Band Christmas (Garden City)
  • 2012: Big Band (Garden City)
  • 2025: Sports (GTS Records)

Live albums

  • 1995: Live at Red Rocks (Decca)
  • 2004: Worship at Red Rocks (live) (Garden City)
  • 2005: Red Rocks Platinum (live) (Garden City)
  • 2008: Alive: Music & Dance (Garden City)
  • 2020: Songs and Stories from the Grand Piano (Garden City)

Compilations and collections

  • 1990: Tour de France – The Early Years (Private Music)
  • 1993: Monterey Nights (Decca)
  • 1995: Anthology
  • 1997: Victory – the sports collection (GTSP)
  • 1999: Heart of the Sunrise - The Millennium Collection (John Tesh)
  • 1999: One Day (Unison)
  • 2000: Pure Hymns (Faith MD)
  • 2000: Forever More: The Greatest Hits of John Tesh (Decca)
  • 2003: Worship Collection: Awesome God (Garden City)
  • 2009: The Best of Christmas
  • 2009: John Tesh – Greatest Hits – Live in Concert Vol. 1 CD/DVD (Garden City)

Singles

  • 1988: A Thousand Summers (single)
  • 1989: You Break It (Atlantic) (single)

Other albums

  • 1995: Backstage with John Tesh (Digital Entertainment) (an interactive CD-rom)
  • 2005: Drive Time Intelligence (26 tracks of Intelligence For Your Life on the go, plus 3 bonus music tracks)
  • 2010: God of Wonders (Word)

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.

Other websites