John Tesh

American Musician
John Tesh is a renowned American musician and radio/TV presenter. He has won numerous awards, including Emmys and Grammy nominations, and his live concerts have raised millions for PBS. Tesh is also known for composing the iconic NBA on NBC basketball theme, and hosting popular shows like Intelligence for Your Life.

About John Tesh

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”, and the Intelligence for Your Life radio show. In addition, since 2014, he has hosted Intelligence for Your Life TV with his wife, Connie Sellecca.

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 has previously 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 was inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame.

Get to know John Tesh better

Frequently asked questions about John Tesh

John Tesh is an American musician, radio, and television presenter. He is known for composing the NBA on NBC basketball theme ,Roundball Rock, and hosting the Intelligence for Your Life radio and TV shows.

John Tesh has won six Emmy awards and has four gold albums, two Grammy nominations, and an Associated Press award for investigative journalism.

John Tesh’s live concerts have raised more than $7 million for PBS.

In addition to his music and radio/TV shows, John Tesh has co-hosted the television program Entertainment Tonight and worked as a sports commentator and host for events like the Olympic Games, Wimbledon, and the Tour de France.

John Tesh was inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame in 2018.

Quotes by John Tesh

A lot of people are willing to pray or to put in work, but they’re not willing to take true risks.

John Tesh

After playing so many songs in churches for eight or nine years, I’ve learned what songs people react to. Then I just had fun with the arrangements. That’s how this album came together.

John Tesh

I always wanted to be a full-time musician. Every television job I had was a means to buy a grand piano, or to put in a recording studio, or something like that.

John Tesh

I come from the performance world, but the idea of a worship song is different. It’s useful music.

John Tesh

I grew up wanting to be a musician, but my parents were sure I would starve to death. So, they put me in physics and chemistry. That eventually blew up, and I got into radio.

John Tesh

I spent another six years in Europe covering sporting events such as the Tour de France.

John Tesh

I took the ET job because I wanted to stop traveling and they said I would only work half a day. Then I could work on music the rest of the day. They put in my contract that I wouldn’t work after 1 P.M.

John Tesh

I was 23 years old. It was a wild time. I was covering everything that blew up – blackouts, Studio 54, son of Sam killer, and all of that stuff.

John Tesh

I’d like to do a television show that is encouraging, useful, and clean, and I’d like to go up against Entertainment Tonight and beat it.

John Tesh

If you want to get an education in how to get a story and how to survive, then get a street reporter job in New York City.

John Tesh

If you want to write the next great novel, but you think, No, this won’t work because no one will buy it or it won’t be any good, then you talk yourself out of taking a risk.

John Tesh

I’ve been stuck on John Eldredge lately. He’s all about being a warrior outside of the church. I hate to think about this kind of stuff – I just like to do it.

John Tesh

None of those jobs were high-profile, but once I was on ET, people then began to associate me with that show. So, that is the thing that many people know me for. When in effect, that was the end of my television career.

John Tesh

Really, at a time when they’re debating when and where a nativity scene can be used, this is the kind of stuff we need to have out there – outside of the church.

John Tesh

Risk means everything from being honest about your faith, to moving, to quitting a job that’s paying you a fortune but it’s not what’s in your heart. Risking things is one of the biggest fears we have.

John Tesh

The real advantage for me is that I have the opportunity to lead worship every Sunday.

John Tesh

There’s probably a way to use that great content and to live under the radar now and then in order to reach a new audience. That’s the thinking I’m talking about.

John Tesh

Those worship songs on the Christmas project will air on PBS television. That’s highly unusual.

John Tesh

To understand this Christmas record, you have to understand our ministry.

John Tesh