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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 their 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, doing one of the many things he loves, playing the saxophone.
Tonight's "Molar Band" is comprised of 2 orthodontists and a pediatric dentist. While mild mannered dentists by day, when these doctors take off their lab coats and put on their tuxes, they 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, who was playing the saxophone with the Tonight Show Band at the time, was his inspiration and mentor. "It was great having him right next door," Dr. Tichler 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 a great interest in dentistry and decided to make a career of orthodontics and let music help finance his education. He played in a band with his friend and fellow musician, Neil Sedaka, at parties, weddings and Bar Mitzvahs. Later, he began playing with a variety of bands at the big hotels in the Catskills. During the late 1950's and early 1960's when the Catskills were the place to be, Dr. Tichler 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.
Although music has taken a back seat to his orthodontic practice and raising his family, Dr. Tichler still takes his show on the road every chance he gets playing at restaurants and local fundraisers. He also never goes on vacation without bringing along his trusty sax. Over the years, Dr. Tichler has played at various locations all over the world.
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