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Some character building jobs along the way:
- Grocery Delivery Boy - Ages 13 - 17
- Singing in a Religious Choir - Ages 13 - 16
- Learning saxophone and playing in Marching Band in High School
- Played in rock & roll and wedding bands all through College
- Played in orchestra for several nursing homes during the holiday season
- Played and sang in Neil Sedaka’s first recording
This is Dr. Tichler's band that he played in when he was in high school! Look at Dr. Tichler's hair when he was 18! The second guy from the left, is Neil Sedaka!
Doctor By Day, Jazz Man By Night
After completing treatment of his patients at his orthodontic office in West Islip on Long Island, Dr. Howard Tichler, his partner, Dr. Jenny Abraham and his staff get ready to attend Staff Appreciation Night at a nearby Marriot. But Dr. Tichler won't just be attending the event, he will be part of the entertainment as well as doing one of the things he loves best; playing saxophone.
Tonight's "Molar Band" is comprised of 2 orthodontists and a pediatric dentist. These guys may play mild mannered dental professionals during the day, but at night, it's another story. They take off their lab coats, put on their tuxes and play jazz like there's no tomorrow.
Dr. Tichler began his love affair with music and the saxophone in particular at age 8. His uncle, Sid Cooper, was playing the saxophone with the Tonight Show Band at the time and was young Howard's inspiration and mentor. "It was great having him right next door," Howard remembers, "except that he would bang on the wall when I wasn't practicing properly!
Although he first set out to make music his profession, Dr. Tichler had an interest in dentistry and decided to make a career of orthodontics and let music help finance his education. He played with his friends and fellow musician, Neil Sedaka, at parties, weddings and Bar Mitzvahs. Later, he began playing with a variety of bands at the big hotel in the Catskills during the years when everyone who was anyone was getting their start in the Catskills during the late 1950's and early 1960's. The band played for such notables as Gregory Hines, Jackie Mason, Sammy Davis Jr. and Steve Lawrence and Edie Gourmet. Dr. Tichler even got to do some recording when Neil asked him to sing on two of his records including Neil's first hit, "The Diary".
After completing dental school, Dr. Tichler was drafted into the war in Vietnam but was fortunate enough to stay stateside, treating the children of the soldiers. It was this experience that steered him toward a specialty in orthodontics as he found that he loved working with his young patients. After the war and a residency in orthodontics, he began his career in earnest.
As anyone can tell you, it is hard to fit everything you would like into your life when you are building a business and starting a family and music now had to take a backseat to managing everyday life. But Dr. Tichler still took his show on the road every change he did have playing at restaurants and local fundraisers. He also never took a vacation without bringing along his trusty sax. Over the years, he has played at various locations all over the world.
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