Lectures
My service involves me giving talks on music - particularly from the first half of the last century, and delivering a dynamic lecture/performance hybrid that will engage audiences. I always bring my guitar, amplifier and speaker system to infuse my lectures with demonstrations of the subject matter, and to consistently make my presentations enjoyable, entertaining and informative. All of these lectures can be attended live virtually as well.
Some examples of presentations I’ve done in the past year are:
“The Great American Songbook”: The origins in Tin Pan Alley, the development in Broadway musicals, and the refining of the popular music legacy in the first half of the twentieth century". Join guitarist John Tuohy as he discusses these outstanding songs composed between 1920 and 1950 and their legacies while playing guitar arrangements of other famous songs.
“Louis Armstrong: The Man and his Music”- Louis Armstrong ranks amongst the most iconic, well-respected, and storied personalities in all of jazz history. With a five-decade career, his massive influence can't be over stated, even today. Join guitarist John Tuohy for a dive into the life and times of Louis Armstrong, focusing on his early years, his trumpet and vocal stylings, as well as performances of guitar arrangements of his most iconic songs.
“Gypsy Jazz: The virtuosity and daring of Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grapelli" - Gypsy Jazz or "Jazz Manouche" is a strain of passionate, fiery, and virtuosic guitar and violin based music to roar out of France in the 1930s and 1940's. This uniquely European interpretation of American Jazz has a fascinating origin, compelling history, and is still one of the most popular branches of jazz today. Join guitarist John Tuohy as he discusses and dissects this interesting topic through the lens of it's founders; guitarist Django Reinhardt and violinist Stephane Grapelli. As always, John will play some guitar arrangements of some of their memorable tunes, in addition to watching rare video clips of these marvelous performers.
"Mambo, Salsa and Bossa Nova: The Impact of Latin and South American Music on American Culture" - From Tito Puente, to Perez Prado, to Antonio Carlos Jobim, Latin and South American music and culture had a huge impact on the US for decades starting in the 1940's. Join guitarist John Tuohy as he profiles some of the major contributors to the styles known as Mambo, Salsa, and Bossa Nova. We will watch rare live video clips of these artists, as well as listen to some guitar arrangements of these classics.
"My Way: A Profile of the music of Frank Sinatra" - Frank Sinatra, a.k.a. "Ol' Blue Eyes" holds a place in many generation's hearts. His music, his story, and his legacy still impacts musicians, fans, and popular culture alike. Join guitarist John Tuohy for a discussion about the early years of Frank Sinatra, his rise to prominence, his tough times and eventual reincarnation in the nation's consciousness.
"Billie Holiday: 'Lady Day', her music - and her story" - Join guitarist John Tuohy as we discuss the larger than life story of one of the most well-renowned vocalists of all time. From her turbulent childhood, to her rise to fame, we will chronicle this unique talent's story with rare video clips, early recordings, and guitar arrangements of some of her most famous songs.
George Gershwin: A Rhapsody in Blue - a profile of one of the most iconic songwriters of the 20th century" - Join guitarist John Tuohy for a fascinating look at the short life and times of the composer of Rhapsody in Blue, Porgy and Bess, An American in Paris, and many more timeless classics. This presentation is replete with rare video clips of amazing performances of his seminal works, as well as live guitar performances of his most well-known songs.
"Music from the Movies - From Stage to Screen". Join guitarist John Tuohy as he takes popular classic movie musicals, such as The Sound of Music, Wizard of Oz, My Fair Lady and many more, and discusses a little about the film's history, plays video clips of the most well-known songs, and performs guitar arrangements of the classics.
"The First Lady of Song: Ella Fitzgerald and her Signature Style" - Join guitarist John Tuohy as he discusses the wonderful, inspiring and inimitable life of renowned singing sensation Ella Fitzgerald. There will be video clips of her key live performances, a breakdown of her vocal stylings, a discussion of her tumultuous early life, as well as guitar arrangements of some of her classic songs.
"The Crooners part 1 and 2: From Bing to Dean, Mel and Beyond" Join guitarist John Tuohy as he explores the careers of the most world-renowned popular music singers from the first half of the 20th century. As always, John will play rare video and audio clips to enhance the discussion, and perform well-known songs from the crooners catalog.
"Irving Berlin: The Man who was American Music - From Ragtime to Riches, a true American success story" Join guitarist John Tuohy for a deep dive into one of the most prolific songwriters of the last century. We will discuss many of his iconic songs, and find out more about the man behind them, along with guitar arrangements of his classics.
"Nat King Cole: Unforgettable." Join guitarist John Tuohy as he talks about the life and times of the legendary Nat "King" Cole, from his upbringing as a jazz pianist, to a world-renowned singer of tender ballads. As always, John will play some guitar arrangements of his familiar tunes, in addition to watching rare video clips of Nat's live performances."
"Bing Crosby: Swinging on a Star" - Join guitarist John Tuohy as he discusses the wide-ranging legacy of arguably the most popular entertainer of the 20th century, complete with rare video clips and John's own guitar arrangements of some of his most treasured songs.
"Over the Rainbow: The Life and Music of Judy Garland" - Join guitarist John Tuohy as he discusses the incredible yet tragic career of childhood singer and actress Judy Garland. We will watch some of her most iconic film scenes and listen to her most memorable recordings. In addition, John will play guitar arrangements of some of her most well-known tunes.
“Julie Andrews: The Dame of Stage and Screen”- From Mary Poppins, to the Sound of Music, to the Princess Diaries, Julie Andrews has had a remarkable career as an actress and vocalist over the past 5 decades! Her films are world renowned, but her body of work encompasses much, much more. Join guitarist John Tuohy as we discuss her history, listen to her wonderful recordings and watch clips from her most popular films.
"Antonio Carlos Jobim: Bossa Nova and Beyond" - Antonio Carlos Jobim, the man known affectionately as "Tom", composed some of the 1960's and 1970's most beautiful songs that make audiences dance and sway to this day. As the originator of the style that came to be called "Bossa Nova", Jobim introduced a taste of his Brazilian culture to the wider world through landmark albums such as Getz/Gilberto, and songs such as "The Girl from Ipanema" and "Corcovado". Join guitarist John Tuohy as he discusses the legacy of this great songwriter, plays rare video clips of Jobim's live concerts, and performs arrangements of this beautiful music.
"Rodgers and Hammerstein: The Transformation of Broadway and other tales Part 1 and 2" - There may be no bigger celebrated Broadway duo than that of composer Richard Rodgers, and librettist Oscar Hammerstein II. Not only did they pen such classics as "The King and I", "Oklahoma!", "South Pacific", and many more, but they changed how Broadway musicals functioned from then on. Join guitarist John Tuohy as he discusses their impact on the theater world, plays video clips from their most well-known classics, and performs guitar interpretations of their legendary songs.
"Wake Up and Dream: The Cole Porter Story Part 1 and 2"- Cole Porter is not only one of the most prolific and popular songwriters of the 20th century, but he has a fascinating origin story as well. Join guitarist John Tuohy as he talks about the rise of Cole Porter's music career, his continuing legacy in popular culture , and his impact on current music. In addition to watching rare video clips of his songs being performed, John will perform instrumental versions of some of his classics.
"Dean Martin: Ain't that a Kick in the Head?" - Dean Martin is known for his "Mr. Cool" Persona, his baritone crooning voice, and a string of incredible films with "The Rat Pack". Join guitarist John Tuohy as he discusses Dean's interesting life, his rise to fame, and his legendary live performances. As always, John will play video and audio selections, as well as guitar arrangements of some of his most famous songs.
"Glenn Miller: In The Mood for Swing" - Glenn Miller was arguably the biggest big band leader of his day, charting hit after hit with such classics as "In The Mood", "Moonlight Serenade", "Pennsylvania 6-5000" and many more. Within the span of a short 4 years, he and his orchestra became the most popular swing band of the era. Join guitarist John Tuohy as he talks about the history, legacy, and impact of Glenn Miller through videos, audio clips, and guitar arrangements of Miller's classic tunes.
"Shall We Dance? : The Fred Astaire Story part I and 2" - Fred Astaire is considered the biggest innovator and most influential dancer in the history of film, as well as having the distinction of introducing many famous musicals and songs to the delight of his massive audiences. His influence still resonates soundly with modern dancers and actors. Join guitarist John Tuohy as he talks about Fred Astaire's remarkable career, and plays videos of his most stellar performances.
"Benny Goodman: The King of Swing" Benny Goodman, the master clarinetist, music star, and influential big band leader has a larger than life status in the history of jazz from the 1930's on. From starting out as a sideman on Broadway, to becoming the biggest name in swing, his career was chock full of great musical moments. Join guitarist John Tuohy as we go over the history of Benny Goodman, play rare video clips of his live performances, and listen to some of his most celebrated recordings.
"Road to Everywhere - The Story of Bob Hope" - Bob Hope, the American standup comedian, actor, singer, broadcaster and author was one of the most beloved entertainers of all time. With over 70 short and feature films under his belt, he influenced the style of American comedy for over 80 years! Join guitarist John Tuohy as we take a look at his striking career, and watch some of his all time greatest scenes, songs and more.
"Harmony, Swing, and Boogie-Woogie - The Story Of The Andrews Sisters" - The Andrews Sisters are perhaps the best known "close harmony" singers of the last century. From their own major hits for Decca records, to backing up famous artists such as Perry Como, Glenn Miller, and Benny Goodman, the Andrews Sisters were amongst the most elite vocal groups for nearly three decades. Their influence can even be heard today in many contemporary pop groups. Join guitarist John Tuohy as he explores their fascinating career, while listening to their well-known recordings, watching clips of their television appearances, and delving into their history.
"Wake Up Little Susie - The Life and Times of the Everly Brothers" - Don and Phil Everly were among the most influential singer/songwriter duos of the 1950's and 1960's. Their close harmony style was a major influence on some of the most seminal musicians of the day, including The Beatles, the Beach Boys, Simon and Garfunkel, and many more. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as part of the inaugural class of 1986, and into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2001. Join guitarist John Tuohy as he explores their lives and careers from their first hits, to their long lasting legacy.
"Singing in the Rain - The Hollywood Story of Gene Kelly - Part I" - Gene Kelly, legendary actor, dancer, choreographer, and filmmaker was one of the biggest hollywood stars for decades. With his athletic dancing style, charm and good looks, he starred in many iconic roles in the "golden age" of musicals, such as "Singing in the Rain", "An American in Paris", and countless others. Join guitarist John Tuohy as he dives into his stage and film career, while watching clips of his most iconic scenes and enjoying his most treasured songs.
"Neil Diamond: I've Been This Way Before" - Neil Diamond is one of the best selling singer-songwriters of all time, selling a whopping 100 million albums across his 50+ year career. With such hits as "Sweet Caroline", "Desiree", "If You Know What I Mean" and dozens more, Neil's penchant for chart topping hits seems to have no end. Join guitarist John Tuohy as he does a deep dive into Neil Diamonds catalogue, plays video clips of his hits, and performs some instrumental versions of his most treasured material.
"The Times, They Are a-Changin' - The Bob Dylan Story" Bob Dylan, the American singer-songwriter is widely considered to be one of the greatest songwriters of all time. His 60 year career got its start in the early 1960's when his lyrics started to incorporate a range of political, social, philosophical, and literary influences, defying pop music conventions and appealing to the burgeoning counterculture. Join guitarist John Tuohy as he dives into Dylan's music of the 1960's with videos of his live performances, interviews and songs along with guitar arrangements of some of his classics.
"Bridge Over Troubled Water: The Music of Simon and Garfunkel part I and II" - The celebrated folk-rock duo of Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel was one of the best selling artists of not only the 1960's but of all time. With such hits as "Mrs. Robinson", "The Sound of Silence", and "The Boxer", this duo who met in elementary school in Queens, New York rose to the highest heights of fame by 1965, and has remained there ever since. Join guitarist John Tuohy as he talks about their history and plays videos of their recordings and live performances in this all-new music lecture.
"Georgia On My Mind - The Musical Life of Ray Charles" - Join guitarist John Tuohy for an enchanting musical journey through the life and music of the legendary Ray Charles! Discover the soulful voice and genius of this influential artist who blended rhythm and blues, gospel, jazz, and more, creating the foundation of soul music. Experience his timeless hits like 'Georgia on My Mind,' 'Hit the Road Jack,' and 'What'd I Say.'
"It's The Most Wonderful Time of the Year: Holiday Music in American Culture" - Stretching all the way from October through December, Americans have historically loved the magical holiday season. Along with memories of eggnog, fires, colored twinkly lights, and gift-giving are the musical traditions that we carry forth year after year. Join guitarist John Tuohy as we listen to some of the greatest holiday classics of the last century, learn the history behind many of the songs, as well as watch him perform some classic guitar arrangements.
"Elvis Presley: Love Me Tender - The story of the 'King' of Rock and Roll part 1" - Elvis Presley, the world's first international Rock and Roll star, movie legend, and hitmaker took the world by storm by the early 1950's. Elvis has sold more than 400 million records worldwide, won 3 grammys in multiple genres of music and was posthumously given the Presidential Medal of Freedom. His life was as incredible as it was chaotic and tumultuous. Join guitarist John Tuohy as he discusses the impact of this legend on the world in the first part of a two part series, replete with scenes from his movies, his television appearances and some of his biggest hits.
"Piano Man: The Story of Billy Joel Part I and II" - Billy Joel has amassed hit after hit from the early 70's through the late 90's. Hailing from a tiny town on Long Island, the singer/songwriter has sold over 160 MILLION albums in his career and continues to write and perform to this day. Join guitarist John Tuohy as he discusses the music and career of the piano man, Billy Joel.
"Born In The USA: The music of Bruce Springsteen - Part 1 and II" The musician known to the world as "The Boss", Bruce Springsteen has released 21 studio albums during a career spanning six decades. Springsteen is a pioneer of heartland rock, a genre combining mainstream rock music with poetic and socially conscious lyrics that feature narratives primarily concerning working class American life. Join guitarist John Tuohy as he talks about his upbringing, career and musical catalogue in this first part of a two-part series.
"Aretha Franklin: The Soulful Saga of the Icon Who Shook the World." This lecture will illuminate her journey from gospel roots to global superstardom, highlighting her influence on music and society. Don't miss your chance to honor the legacy of a trailblazer who changed the world!
"Rocket Man: The Extraordinary Journey of Sir Elton John - Part I and II" - Join guitarist John Tuohy for a dazzling journey through the life and music of Sir Elton John - from his early days as a piano prodigy named Reginald Dwight to his transformation into one of music's most flamboyant and beloved superstars. Experience the stories behind his legendary hits like "Your Song," "Tiny Dancer," and "Rocket Man," while discovering how this shy boy from Pinner, England became rock royalty with over 300 million records sold worldwide. Through captivating tales, memorable melodies, and remarkable achievements spanning six decades, we'll explore the phenomenal career of the man who brought us unforgettable soundtracks to both "The Lion King" and "Princess Diana's funeral," all while remaining one of music's most enduring and colorful personalities.
"Harmony in Time: The Carpenters' Timeless Legacy" The Carpenters, the iconic sibling duo of Karen and Richard, captivated audiences with their smooth melodies and heartfelt lyrics in the 1970s. Known for hits like "Close to You" and "We've Only Just Begun," their music blended pop and soft rock with unparalleled warmth. This presentation will explore their rise to fame, unique sound, and enduring influence on music. Get ready to rediscover the magic of their timeless harmonies!
"A Voice That Echoes - Roy Orbison's Timeless Ballads"- Roy Orbison, the legendary singer-songwriter from Vernon, Texas, mesmerized audiences with his operatic voice and emotionally charged ballads. Known for iconic hits like "Oh, Pretty Woman" and "Crying," his music blended rock, country, and pop with a haunting intensity. This presentation will explore his rise to fame, distinctive style, and lasting impact on music.
"Soulful Serenades - Marvin Gaye's Enduring Legacy" Marvin Gaye, the iconic soul singer from Washington, D.C., captivated the world with his smooth vocals and profound lyrics in the 1960s and 70s. Known for timeless hits like "What's Going On" and "Let's Get It On," his music masterfully blended soul, R&B, and social commentary. This presentation will explore his journey to stardom, innovative sound, and lasting influence on music and culture. Get ready to feel the passion and power of Marvin Gaye’s soulful melodies!
"Broadway’s Golden Years: A Celebration of Song and Style" - Step into the vibrant 1940s to 1960s, when Broadway dazzled with unforgettable musicals. From the sassy swagger of Guys and Dolls to the fiery spirit of Gypsy, join us for a lively hour of iconic songs, classic performances, and behind-the-scenes stories that made New York’s stages shine. Expect video clips, toe-tapping tunes, and a nostalgic nod to Broadway’s boldest era!
"Bing vs. Judy" Celebrate the holiday season with a nostalgic look at the beloved film White Christmas and the legendary Bing Crosby. Explore the movie's memorable songs, behind-the-scenes stories, and enduring appeal while comparing it to another holiday classic, Meet Me in St. Louis, for a festive journey through two of America's favorite Christmas films.
“The Andrews Sisters” teaser video
Excerpts from the virtual lecture. “The Great American Songbook”