John Tesh Brings Christmas To Honeywell Big Band Style
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David Slone-dslone@timesuniononline.com
Christmas and the music of the Big Band era will meet on the stage of the Honeywell Center Dec. 17 when John Tesh brings his “Big Band Christmas Live” concert to the venue. In a telephone interview at noon Wednesday, Tesh – who was co-anchor of “Entertainment Tonight” for about 15 years – said the concert will feature Christmas music played in the style of Big Band. Songs will include favorites from the All-American songbook like “Silver Bells” and “Let It Snow.” “I’m always surprised at how many young kids know the sounds (of the Big Band music),” he said. “We get lots of kids at the concerts.” He said the kids are fascinated to see instruments on the stage like trombones and trumpets instead of turntables. Tesh attended a performing arts school growing up on Long Island, long before it was called the performing arts, he said. At 6 or 7 years old, he said he was playing the trumpet and piano. His mother made it mandatory. “My mom was one of those Southern Baptist taskmasters,” he said. “I couldn’t go out and play football or any of those things until I was finished practicing.” Besides playing on tour, Tesh has many other irons in the fire. His radio show, “The John Tesh Radio Show – Intelligence For Your Life!”, is one of the largest radio programs in the country and continues to reach new radio station affiliates. He and his wife, Connie Sellecca, are planning to launch a television version of the radio show next year. “If you go to places like Australia, it’s normal for people to do a lot of different things ... Everyone wants to be Hugh Jackman,” Tesh joked. “Here, they want you to stay where you’re at, though that is changing. It’s loosening up.” Before “Entertainment Tonight,” Tesh said he kept busy doing a lot of different things. His first job was as a film developer in Raleigh, N.C. Over the years, he’s released 10 to 12 albums of his own music arrangements and compositions. He has contributed to another three dozen or so albums with other musicians. He said he does play some of his own music on his radio show, but not too often. People will call you out on that if you do it too much, he said. His radio show does have a regular listening audience that he’s thankful for. As far as launching the syndicated television version of his show, he said that will happen in September 2014. On his website, www.tesh.com, viewers can see some of the ideas they’ve been playing around with for the show. Lots of stuff on television is “conflict TV,” he said, like “The Maury Povich Show.” Tesh’s segments are more helpful items, though he said they will try not to be heavy handed. To help him with all the projects he’s working on, Tesh said he’s got a lot of good people working with him. Twenty people are working with him on the television show, some from “Entertainment Tonight.” They’re working on some very creative stuff, he said. He’s also got a good music director for his tour. As far as music goes in the next year, Tesh said he doesn’t have any new music or albums planned. His focus will be on the television program. In the next two weeks, however, he does have another grandchild on the way, which he’s excited about. For more information about Tesh, visit www.tesh.com or www.teshmusic.com Tesh performs at the Honeywell Center at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 17. Tickets are $28, $42 and $75. For more information, visit www.honeywellcenter.org
