West Virginia Public Broadcasting Presents Joy To The World
25th Anniversary Celebration of Tour and Television/Radio Show features WV Music Hall of Fame Pianist Bob Thompson and NBC TV’s America’s Got Talent winning vocalist Landau Eugene Murphy Jr.
Pianist and WV Music Hall of Fame member Bob Thompson has announced Columbia Records recording artist Landau Eugene Murphy Jr. will be the featured vocalist for a special 25th anniversary edition of “Joy to the World,” the holiday jazz program and tour produced by West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
“Joy to the World” will feature friends Murphy and Thompson alongside a rotating roster of top musicians from both their bands in a series of intimate live holiday performances at venues across West Virginia, Kentucky and Maryland.
Murphy is the winner of the sixth season of NBC TV’s “America’s Got Talent.” Since then Landau has toured the world and released a live concert DVD, best selling book and three hit albums. His most recent single “Come Home to West Virginia,” was a top 10 ITunes hit, and is a love letter to his home state of West Virginia, where he has helped raise over a million dollars for Mountain State charities.
Thompson and Murphy have collaborated several times in the past, performing on stage together at the WV Music Hall of Fame ceremony, at numerous charity fund-raising events and concerts, and even on Murphy’s holiday album “Christmas Made For Two,” which features arrangements and instrumentation from Thompson and his band on two songs.
Landau says “It’s always great to come home for the holidays, and to play music with Bob again as part of West Virginia Public Broadcasting’s Joy To The World tour across West Virginia is really special.”
Thompson added “I am so excited to have Landau lined up to help mark this very special occasion. The band and I love working with a vocalist of his style because he can really bring out the best in us with his energy. Landau always delivers, no matter what style or setting.”
Joy to the World is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting. The television and radio premieres of this season’s show will air on WVPB Thursday, December 21 at 8pm ET.