LOCAL MUSICIANS ARE PART OF TEXAS TENORS
A mostly local vocal group was struggling to book ample gigs—paying the bills by working odd jobs between performances. But the Texas Tenors’ career took off in 2009, after their performance on America’s Got Talent garnered praise from celebrity judges–and a standing ovation–that promoted them to professionals.
They placed among the top four finalists in the show’s fourth season, making them the “highest ranking vocal group in the history of the show,” according to the group’s Facebook page.
They spent the next 10 years touring and performing more than 1,400 live concerts and releasing albums before they again competed on America’s Got Talent Champions division show in 2019. Although they did not win that segment, celebrity judge Simon Cowell told the group he couldn’t wait to hear them perform again after they initially competed. Cowell told the trio they had gotten “better with age” and they have “amazing chemistry,” as documented in a YouTube video of the show.
The classical crossover vocal group is bringing its act to Ameristar Casino at 8:30 p.m. Saturday, April 15, 3200 N. Ameristar Dr., Kansas City. Tickets are available at ticketmaster.com.
Member John Hagen, a trained opera singer, sent an audition tape to the show and they became one of 5,000 acts asked to try out.
“Not many people get this opportunity,” Hagen said in a video.
“We got really lucky,” Fisher said during a recent telephone interview with The Landmark, adding that “we never imagined we’d get into the finale.”
Fisher, with a background in country music, said the trio’s success, following their initial appearance on the competition show was instantaneous.
“We just got off the show and hit the street running,” said Fisher, a country singer who, along with Hagen, calls the Kansas City area “home.”
Member Marcus Collins, who hails from California, is a classical Broadway singer who officially launched The Texas Tenors in 2009.
All three had lived in Texas at some point, hence the name, which an industry analyst suggested.
Fisher said their success is well documented, given their fan club and back-to-back bookings. Members can no longer visit airports and hotels without being recognized by fans, he said.
Although they mostly travel to perform, local gigs are a treat. Since he and Hagen live locally, family and friends probably will attend the local Ameristar show.
“It’s always fun to go to a new venue in our hometown,” he said.
Because they have such a varied musical background, they sing a wide range of music including adult, Americana, holiday, country, crossover, and pop. Fisher said the variety means they appeal to everyone. Their shows offer the mix and ideally “look like a roller coaster,” with the audience singing and dancing in the aisles during some pieces, followed by slower ballads the audience typically enjoys while seated. The goal is to offer “something for everyone,” he said.
“Some groups switch over, but don’t quite pull it off. We kind of combine all of it and that’s what makes it fun,” Fisher said, adding that they even have performed with the Oklahoma Symphony, for example. “It’s crazy we can switch over,” he said.
The trio began their onscreen career by performing a crossover version of “Mountain Music,” according to their Facebook page. After their strong finish on America’s Got Talent, the three released a self-titled debut album that carries their name, “The Texas Tenors.”
This album consists of all those four songs that the group performed at the competition. Some of the other songs included were “Nessun Dorma” and “La donna è mobile.”
In 2013, they released their second album, “You Should Dream,” which features several pieces for which they are well known: “God Bless the USA,” “Unchained Melody,” “Wild Horses,” originally performed by the Rolling Stones.
The collection also includes original songs performed to a six-piece orchestra. The group is lucky to work with musicians who’ve played for famous personalities, such as their pianist, who accompanied singer Ray Charles and a woodwinds player who performed with the rock group Alabama.
The trio is one of only two acts from the television competition to star in a PBS television special about America’s Got Talent. Other accolades include the five Emmy nominations and three wins, Fisher said.
A third album, “Rise,” was released in 2019 and debuted on number one on the Classical Albums Chart and number five on the Top Country Albums Chart.
Fisher reflected on the trio’s career, which now has spanned more than a decade in which they’ve amassed a worldwide fan base of over half a million followers on social media. They also have more than 20 million views on YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram.
He said they are so busy traveling and performing it would be impossible to work other jobs, like they did in the past. Besides, they’d much rather be performing. In addition, they have no manager, so they set their schedule.
“We do exactly what we want,” Fisher said.