John Tosco is Founder and Executive Director of Tosco Music, a nonprofit organization that has been enhancing Charlotte’s community through music for more than 30 years. Tosco Music produces a quarterly concert series each year called Tosco Music Parties (TMP’s). John curates each TMP that features an eclectic mix of all styles of music and his trademark singalongs with the audience. TMPs started as informal song circles and jam sessions in John’s living room and now take place at the 1,200-seat Knight Theater. In 2022, Tosco Music celebrated its 100th TMP! John also coordinates Tosco Music’s community outreach programs including youth music scholarships, performance opportunities for local talent, monthly open mics, senior singalong parties, ticket scholarships, and live music performances at free community events. toscomusic.org
In 2019 with Tosco Music, John launched FabFest-Charlotte’s Beatles Festival as an annual destination live music event drawing Beatles fans from across the Southeast to the Queen City. In addition to celebrating the universal popularity of the music of the Beatles, the festival engages musicians and artists of all ages and backgrounds, and bridges generations and cultures in a participatory community event. fabfestcharlotte.org
John studied at Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA. He then moved to Denver, CO and founded the Wild River Band which toured the Midwest from 1981 to 1983 and performed at The Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, TN. After moving to Charlotte, he taught guitar at the Community School of the Arts and at Central Piedmont Community College for nearly 20 years. John opened Tosco Music Studio in 2002 where he continues to teach guitar, bass, mandolin, and ukulele to students of all ages. toscomusicstudio.com