John Tesh is back to making music. The multi-talented star just released SPORTS, an instrumental album of 11 original songs inspired by some of the most iconic moments in sports, like the Tour de France, Ironman, Olympics and more. The record also includes two versions of his “Roundball Rock” song, which is returning as the theme of the NBA on NBC in October.

SPORTS is Tesh’s first album of new material in 20 years.

“The thing that triggered it was that this little song that I wrote for basketball, ‘Roundball Rock,’ is coming back in the fall on NBC. And when NBC made that decision, and they want me to do all these interviews and everything, I said, ‘Well, maybe I should do that some more.’ And so, it was a kick in the pants.”

Tesh, who now lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Connie Sellecca, made the decision to record SPORTS in Nashville, because of the caliber of musicians.

“The musicians here in Nashville, they’re sight-reading,” Tesh boasts. “And the music that I brought them, not for nothing, as we say in New York, it’s odd time signatures. … You would wanna have that the night before, to practice that.”

“I would,” he continues with a laugh. “But they’re sight-reading, and it’s just boom, you go right through it. And so, it cost us money to bring everybody here. …. But it was the right move.”

John Tesh’s Nashville History

Long before Tesh rose to national prominence, he was working in Nashville at WSM, before it became WSMV. The city became his home away from home,

“I had worked at two other TV stations, before coming to WSM,” Tesh says. “I worked in Raleigh and Orlando. But things really didn’t start until, until WSM, because it was a very serious news organization. I learned pretty much everything that I learned as a journalist there, in that place.”

Now 73 years old, Tesh has fond memories of his time in Music City, where he got to know another journalist, Oprah Winfrey, when both of their careers were just beginning.

“I was 21 years old, and I was at Channel 4, and Oprah at 19 was at Channel 5,” Tesh recalls. “It was a great time.”

John Tesh Being Part of NBA on NBC

Tesh has a long and extensive history with sports, both as a journalist and a musician. To have “Roundball Rock” be part of NBA on NBC this year is a full-circle moment for Tesh.

“I wrote this song in 1989 when I found out that, that NBC had gotten the coverage for the NBA from CBS,” Tesh recalls  “It always moves around. And I was actually working on a sporting event at the time. I was working on the Tour de France, and I was writing music for that. I heard that NBC was looking for a new theme. And so, the story is on the internet, but it’s a true story.”

“I mean, I actually called my answering machine in the middle of the night with an idea, and and musicians will tell you they do this,” he recounts. “And I just sang  into my answering machine in New York via phone. And when I got back to New York, I went to sleep that night, forgot what I’d done, got back to New York, and it was there.”

The song remained dormant for years, until Saturday Night Live did a spoof of the song, which gave it an exciting new life.

“When they did that, that’s when people started noticing it on YouTube,” Tesh shares. “So now that NBC has the coverage back, they want to play it again in the fall.”

John Tesh Looks Ahead

Tesh has already accomplished far more than most, but there is still more he wants to do. Tesh has a popular radio show, The John Tesh Radio Show, which airs on more than 350 stations in North America. He also posts positive, encouraging content on social media, and has a lot more he still wants to do.

Diagnosed with a rare form of cancer in 2015, and given 18 months to live, the health scare motivated Tesh to live life to the fullest. For Tesh, his best days might still be ahead of him.

“I really feel like I want to finish strong,” Tesh says. “I could give you many places in the Bible where it says that you wanna run the race to win.  And so I wasn’t supposed to live to be 73, my current age. And I realized that I love music. I love writing music. I miss it. I was trying to do too many things.”

Now, Tesh focuses on his family, and his passion for music that propels him forward.

“Basically the glory of God is man and women fully alive,” Tesh concludes. “And I’m fully alive when I’m making music and when I’m playing it. And so, when you ask what’s next for me, it’s gonna just be lots more music.”