Joy ToThe World is a one-hour live performance holiday jazz program hosted by pianist Bob Thompson.  Produced by West Virginia Public Broadcasting in Charleston, West Virginia for 16 years, the show is performed before a consistently sold-out audience at Charleston’s Culture Center Theater.  Joy To The World has traditionally been the kickoff to the holiday season in Charleston.

Each year Bob invites a guest vocalist to join his band to add some swing to the holiday special.  This year’s Joy to the World features special guest vocalist Dwight Lenox.

Growing up in New York, Dwight honed his talent in the church choir. He went on to study and perform musical styles as diverse as country and rock 'n' roll. But his gospel roots, combined with such childhood influences as Nancy Wilson, Nat Cole and Sarah Vaughn, made jazz a natural showcase for his talent.

For Joy To The World, Thompson applies his expansive jazz vocabulary to some favorite holiday tunes, adding a fresh perspective to the songs that evoke those well-known feelings of the season. The individuality of the guest vocalist always plays a unique role in the interpretation and arrangement of the holiday material, making each year’s performance as fresh as the season’s first snow.