The Texas Tenors

A unique vocal trio, the Texas Tenors combine country, classical, and pop influences into one crowd-pleasing formula. The group was formed in 2009 by JC Fisher, a classically trained vocalist who also had a background in country and pop music. Fisher received a Master’s degree in music from Wichita State University, and worked as an actor and singer before finding a lucrative sideline in performing a one-man show on cruise ships. While working as an entertainer at sea, Fisher got the idea of forming a trio that could cross the boundaries of genre while performing with lush orchestral arrangements, and recruited his friends Marcus Collins and John Hagen to help realize his vision. Collins was gifted in pop music and show tunes, and enjoyed a successful history in musical theater, as well as working regularly as a TV actor. Hagen, meanwhile, was an accomplished classical vocalist who had sung with respected professional opera companies across the United States. As the Texas Tenors, the three devised a show that allowed them to show off their individual talents in various styles, as well as their collective skill. Months after they formed, the group landed a big break when they were invited to compete on the television talent show America’s Got Talent, where they finished in fourth place. Their appearances on the show boosted their profile considerably, and before the year was out, the Texas Tenors recorded and released their first album, which featured several of the tunes they performed on America’s Got Talent along with a variety of popular numbers and operatic arias. In 2011, the self-titled album was remastered and reissued under the title Country Roots: Classical Sound. It didn’t take long for the trio to become a potent live draw, touring in the United States, the United Kingdom, and China, as well as making regular appearance in Branson, Missouri. In 2013, the group spent plenty of time in the recording studio as well as on-stage; they released two full-length albums, the country-themed You Should Dream and the holiday collection O Night Divine, as well as two patriotic singles, “God Bless the U.S.A.” and “The Star-Spangled Banner,” and an EP drawn from an appearance on the TV series Larry’s Country Diner. In 2015, the Texas Tenors released a single for youngsters, “Ruckus on the Ranch,” and two years later, they delivered their fourth studio album, 2017′s Rise. Featuring a guest appearance from Bill Medley of the Righteous Brothers on the Tenors’ version of “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’,” Rise was the group’s most successful release to date, debuting at number one on the Classical Albums chart and number five on the Country Albums chart. They returned in 2018 with the musical-themed A Collection of Broadway & American Classics. ~ Mark Deming