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
It’s impossible to be a good Christian. If you think it’s easy to be a good Christian, then you’re not really trying hard enough. – 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
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
We feel like if we miss a Sunday at church, that’s one thing, but we can’t miss an opportunity to help. – John Tesh
I used almost every penny I ever made to build recording studios in every city I lived in. I don’t have much to show for all the TV money except a lot of musical gear and a lot of songs. – John Tesh
When I was playing piano, it was like, ‘I’m going to write a song using all the white keys.’ My music director, who knew my jazz background, suggested I try big-band music, so we spent a year experimenting with it in concert, and the audience reaction was really good. – John Tesh
I come from the performance world, but the idea of a worship song is different. It’s useful music. – 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
Most of the people interviewing me are far more square than me. I think it’s the ET thing. I’m sitting there, my hair is combed, and I’m in a suit. – John Tesh
I guarantee you that the people who watch ‘Conan O’Brien’ or who watch ‘Entertainment Tonight’ and probably a lot of these other programs have never heard of Operation Blessing. Maybe they have heard of UNICEF, and I’m sure they have heard of the Red Cross, but they haven’t heard of this organization. – John Tesh
We never want to go into a tour and play 15 songs and say ‘Enjoy.’ We have messages: Number 1, follow your dreams. If I can do it, you can do it. Number 2, give your life to something. We say, ‘Volunteer and add seven years to your life.’ You can have your own personal ministry. The message we have is ‘What do you stand for?’ – John Tesh
I hate to say it, but Christmas as a kid was always a moneymaking venture for me. I played trumpet, and a friend of mine who played trombone and a guy who played tuba, every Christmas we’d go out for three or four days beforehand and play Christmas carols on our horns. – John Tesh
When I was first writing, I was writing mostly about sporting events, which was really what my assignments were. I was working on the Tour de France bike race and the Barcelona Olympic Games, and those songs tend to be very big, very bombastic-type music, which is the type of music that I love to write. – John Tesh
My house was really like ‘It’s a Wonderful Life.’ I sang in the choir and was very involved in the church. – John Tesh
I like writing different types of music. I like writing Christian music. I like collaborating with Christian artists. We have a Christian following. I love writing kids’ music. – John Tesh