Other News and Photos

Take Two is Ted's primary musical focus, but he is involved in many other diverse projects as well. Ted is much in demand as a free-lance musician, and has added his keyboard, guitar and vocal skills to many local groups, including "The Eddie Pollina Band", "Full Spectrum", "The Zen Blues Band", "Raizin' Kane", "Party Of Nine", "CheeseQuake", and "Code Blue". Ted has also worked at weddings and other events with flutist Cheri Papier, violinist Arkadiy Gips, and vocalist Cindy Leland. Click here to see Ted's "resume".

Ted has played for many years in theatre orchestras for Broadway-style shows by local choral groups such as Worthington Chorus and Westerville Song Spinners. He also provides an elegant musical backdrop at many upscale events as a solo pianist.

Most recently, Ted is also working with an 8-piece classical Jewish music ensemble, organized and led by NBC4 meteorologist Ben Gelber. Called "Friday Night Live", this group consists of violin, clarinet, oboe, harp, piano, bass guitar and vocalists. They have played on the OSU campus and at Wexner Heritage Village. They've also appeared on channel 4 news broadcasts, including some comedy footage during the "Friday Night Live" sports show. Performance videos are available on YouTube. You can also visit NBC4i.com and search for "Ben Gelber Ensemble".

Ted and the rest of Ben Gelber's group
at the NBC4 studios

Ben Gelber NBC4 Studios

Ted (far left) onstage with The Zen Blues Band at Martini Park,
at Easton Town Center

ZBB Martini Park

< Ted is joined onstage by Arnett Howard ,
central Ohio musician and historian
and former leader of the "Creole Funk Band"

Ted (on the left) backing 60s girl group "The Shangri-Las"
with the Extravaganza Band at Bicentennial Park in downtown Columbus

Ted chats about the music business
with Grammy-, Oscar-, and Golden-Globe-winning songwriter Paul Williams
during Writers' Night at the Bluebird Cafe in Nashville

(Yes, you know his songs:
hit recordings by Three Dog Night, Carpenters, Barbra Streisand, Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra,
Willie Nelson, Ella Fitzgerald, David Bowie, Ray Charles, R.E.M., Tony Bennett,
Sarah Vaughn, Johnny Mathis, Luther Vandross and Kermit the Frog.)

Check out Paul's website here .

Ted and Paul

Ted chats between sets with His Honor, Columbus mayor Michael Coleman

Ted and Mayor Coleman

Ted plays a wedding ceremony at Temple Israel
with flutist Cheri Papier and world-famous violinist Arkadiy Gips

Cheri Arkadiy

(Arkadiy is fantastic, and he can play any style of music. He recently returned from performing with Madonna
on her "Sticky & Sweet" European tour)

Arkadiy & Louise

Ted (ever the groupie) grabs a camera from behind his keyboard
to snap the legendary Jordanaires next to him on stage
during the "Cruisin' On The Riverfront" show.

(The Jordanaires are a country/gospel quartet from Missouri who have sung on literally thousands of recording sessions over half a century, including those of Rick Nelson, Patsy Cline, Kenny Rogers, Dolly Parton, Steve Lawrence, Connie Francis, Julie Andrews, Jim Reeves, George Jones, and the Judds. But they are probably best known for backing Elvis Presley on records and in movies for 14 years. Elvis specifically asked for them when he moved to RCA Victor records and became a major star, and he insisted they be credited on the record label, something that no one did in those days.)

Here they are doing "Hound Dog" on Ed Sullivan in 1956:

Ohio State University president Dr. E. Gordon Gee requests his favorite tunes
as Ted provides elegant piano stylings at a campus event.

ted and Gordon

Mary Daniels ("Jazz Mary") , leader of the all-female band "Moxie", sits in with Take Two at Pignik.

Here's a shady-looking bunch: the R & B and Classic Soul band
"Greasy Chuck and the High-Tops"
Front: Kent Williamson, Chick (Greasy Chuck) Mawhirter
Back: Greg Trout, Bruce Soble, John Savolaine, Ted Horwitz, Dave Roberts

ATR

Ted with vocalist Pat Landusky at Alex's Bistro in Upper Arlington

Ted and Pat

A Blast From The Past:
"ATR" (Action, Thrills and Romance) , 1976
Mike Noll, Tony Allen, Ted Horwitz, and Lyle Sanders

ATR

(The lady in the middle is Norma Jean Wright, an Elyria, Ohio native who moved to New York City in early 1977, shortly after leaving ATR, and joined the multi-platinum recording group "Chic". It was Norma, along with Luci Martin, who sang the lead on the huge worldwide disco hit "Dance, Dance, Dance (Yowsah Yowsah Yowsah)" , and also the follow-up, "Everybody Dance" . Norma later sang background on many important albums of the 1970s and 1980s, backing artists such as Aretha Franklin, Sister Sledge, Luther Vandross, Debbie Gibson and Madonna.)

ATR

A later incarnation of "ATR" , 1977
Charlie Nash, Tony Allen, Robin Lacy, Joani Clay, Ted Horwitz, and Pete Seeds

ATR RObin and Joani

Robin and Joani later married and have gone on to a very successful career over the last 20 years
with a band that features the Zydeco and Cajun-styled music of Southwest Louisiana.
Check out "Robin Lacy and DeZydeco" at RobinLacy.com

RLDZ Mayfest

Even further in The Past:
Before "ATR", there was "Gutz", a well-respected band in Ohio State campus-area clubs in the late 60s.
Gutz's restrained style and repertoire of music such as the Beatles, Bee Gees, Hollies and Byrds belied the edgy name.
Both bands were anchored by Ted Horwitz and Tony Allen.
Here they are with the luxurious band bus in the parking lot of the
Heidelberg South at Ninth Avenue and High St. (across from the BBF) in 1968.

Ted Tony Gutz

"Take Two" Meets McCartney (Well ..... sort of.)
(Okay, we rode his coattails at fairly close range ...... )
Paul driving

Ted and Sandra flew down to Atlanta awhile back to catch the one and only Paul McCartney in concert at Phillips Arena on his "Driving USA" tour.

For us, it was like going to see God.

We were not alone. Folks came from all over the country for this concert, including some who were seeing the show for the second or third time. It was pretty much a "religious" experience for all of us.

We stayed at the Omni, the hotel which is actually attached to the arena. Wandering through the lobby after the concert, Ted was really excited and he just had to sit down at the piano and play a few chords of "Let It Be" .... just for his own amusement, of course.

big crowd shot

What we didn't anticipate was the place was still crawling with Beatle fanatics, just like us, who had come there for the show, and they were still eager for more. Soon a large, enthusiastic crowd, literally hundreds of people, packed that hotel lobby to gather around the piano, and it became an impromptu "Take Two" performance. We sat there until well into the wee hours playing and singing every Beatle song we could think of. It was very special experience for all of us. The singers

Ted kept glancing at the elevator, wondering if Sir Paul himself would come down and join us. We found out later that he DID play for awhile in the bar of the hotel where he was staying, but unfortunately ... he was at a different hotel. Ted at the piano

The audience was great. Here is a sampling of their comments, emailed to us later:

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"Ted - The McCartney concert in Atlanta was finished to perfection by your sing-along in the lobby of the Omni. I was amazed at your ability to play any song requested. You seem to have the entire Beatles discography memorized and translated through your fingers! I have read your web page and your group sounds amazing. I only wish that ya'll were closer to Alabama."

"Thanks again for sharing your talent and time with all of us - you were great."

Sincerely, Pat P., Tuscaloosa, Alabama
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"Hi Ted - We are the two Boston gals who sat next to you at the concert and had one of THE BEST TIMES OF OUR LIVES back at the Omni belting out the Beatle tunes. You were WONDERFUL!!!!! We'll never forget it! You made the night really complete!"

- Cathy M. and Ann Marie H.

"PS Would you ever play at a wedding in Boston??????"

(Yes, "Take Two" does travel. Appearances outside the central Ohio area include Cleveland, Detroit, Cape Cod, Witchita Kansas, Oregon, Washington, and even Canada.)
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"Ted - Our feet are just beginning to touch the ground again after seeing Paul McCartney in the flesh! We want to thank you again for your fantastic Beatle music piano concert that you gave us all. You made us feel 16 again!

"Thank you again, for sharing your gift of music with all of us Paul freaks. You made our trip even more magical."

Regards, Donna and Larry L.
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