John Tesh is just as many radio listens likely imagine he is -- friendly, gracious, amusing and funny.
Ask him about his “New Age” music and he scoffs. He said the term was created by record store workers who didn’t know where to put his work and that of fellow artists Yanni and Kitaro, so they created a “New Age” category.
Tesh says that categorization has been problematic but he’s really excited about his Band/swing venture that comes to the RiverCenter tonight.
“It’s a really cool thing,” he said.
His inspiration of playing with a Big Band came after watching Ken Burns’ series on jazz on PBS.
“He really took you around the world with jazz,” he said. Tesh remembers his parents playing this type of music when he was growing up, so the music is very familiar to him.
At tonight’s concert, he’ll appear with a 16-piece band -- eight horns, three saxophones, three trumpets and two trombones. Tesh will play the piano.
We spoke to Tesh on the phone last week. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
What is a typical day like for you? Are you really busy?
I don’t know that I’m that busy. I’ve read every book on focus. So my family is No. 1. Then it’s music and its relevancy. I like having a voice. Being on the radio, I get to connect with people. So I stay focused on that. I get to work out of the house. I had an ‘emergency’ studio built and it’s always an emergency for me. I sold my car. We live in the woods. So I go on hikes, do the radio show, Skype when I have to and I do meet with human beings. I never get tired of humans.
Why swing music?
We do Big Band swing. It’s from the late 1950s-60s. Swing really refers, for me, to the way of moving the groove within the tempo.
You kind of started the TV entertainment show genre. Did you come with that idea?
No, it was going before “Entertainment Tonight.” I was working for CBS Events in Europe when I got a call from Paramount. I was offered 13 weeks and I stayed for 10 years.
Do you miss TV? Do you ever watch your old show?
I don’t watch television. My wife loves “Dateline” and “20/20.” She’ll store up weeks’ worth on TiVo. Do you realize that 90 percent of those shows are about wives killing their husbands? By putting antifreeze in their beers?
Does your radio show (“The John Tesh Radio Show: Music and Intelligence for Your Life”) kind of replace being on TV?
It’s more fun for me because I get to be more of a narrator. On TV, there are so many people involved. You’re really, really time-sensitive. There were 23 people working on the show. Now, I have 10 researchers. The main criteria is “Can we explain it (the topic of the day) on the air in 2½ minutes? When people hear it, can they explain it to someone in two sentence?” It’s more purpose-driven than a lot of television I’ve been involved in. Local sports was great. Entertainment was pretty much worthless. I hope that this show, at the end of the day, maybe encouraged someone, saved a relationship. It’s kind of Oprah-esque. Just call us ‘Oprah on the Radio.’
You’ve been married for a long time. How does that happen in Hollywood?
(Tesh married actress Connie Selleca in 1992.) We don’t go anywhere without the family. We live near Holywood, not in Hollywood. I was a nomad for years. I had a failed marriage. We were at a gym. I noticed her, of course. But I knew she was way out of my league. I was about to walk out when she came up to me and said, ‘John? John Tesh?’ I said, “Uh. Hi Connie.” Since she’s Italian, 250 people came to our wedding. Ten of them were from my family and those 10 were in my wedding party. The meaning of family is that we go to therapy once or twice a month. If we have an issue, we have a family meeting and go see a doctor. It’s nice to have a referee. We have a ‘contract’ with our kids. They know exactly what is expected of them. There’s a whole list of stuff (like cleaning up their rooms).
How old are your children?
Gib, Connie’s son, is 30. Our daughter, Prima, is 17. She’s named after Connie’s Dad, Primo. Gib’s going to make us grandparents.
What’s the thing you’re most proud of?
Finding the right woman, I would say. She really found me. So, finding the right partner. And I’m really proud of my relationships with my kids. The third thing is that I’m really happy that I took risks when it was important to take risks -- leaving “E.T.” and starting my radio show. Right now, I have something like survivor’s guilt. So many of my friends got fired from Clear Channel. I’m real fortunate that my show is flourishing.
Are you freaking out about turning 60 next year?
I’m actually not. I want it to happen. July 9 is when it happens. I’m really working hard to try to get into really good shape. I’m going to go nuts. I’ll start smoking and drinking and get a tattoo on my arm. I’ll put my wife’s name on my arm. I’ll forget about Big Band music and go back to rock and roll.
Seriously, though, when do you think you’ll be able to slow down?
I’ve got plenty of stories to tell (on the radio). It’s a sad thing. Baby Boomers are not going away. Because of the economy, they’re taking all the holiday jobs from kids.
What can people expect at your show tonight?
I think it’ll be a lot of fun. We (on stage) have a lot of fun. I’m old enough to be goofy. I’ll talk to the audience. I’ll break into a rap about having a teenaged daughter. I’ll do some old-school Christmas songs. I’ll talk a little about my life and about following my dream. The show itself is a cross between Harry Connick Jr. and Emerson, Lake and Palmer and “A Prairie Home Companion.”
How many shows are on your tour?
I’m doing 10 shows. I’ll do four shows a month. I’m getting ready for next year. I have “Big Band Live” and “Big Band Christmas” CDs and PBS special coming out. I’ve got to tour.
Why such a short fall tour?
This is my last year with my daughter at home. I didn’t want to load it up and miss that time with her.
