![]() The band leader at the time, Skitch Henderson, asked him to join that band in 1962 in the first trumpet chair. After years of playing with NBC’s many studio bands, Doc was invited to play a gig in the highly respected Tonight Show Band. ![]() When this band broke up, Severinsen toured with the Tommy Dorsey, then, the Benny Goodman bands in the late '40s.Īfter his days with Barnett and Dorsey, Doc arrived in New York City in 1949 to become a staff musician for NBC. He served in the Army during World War II and following his discharge, landed a spot with the Charlie Barnett Band. However, his stay with the group was cut short by the draft. At the age of twelve, Little Doc won the Music Educator’s National Contest and, while still in high school, was hired to go on the road with the famous Ted Fio Rito Orchestra. A week later, with the help of his father and a manual of instructions, the seven-year-old was so good that he was invited to join the high school band. insisted on the trombone, which turned out to be unavailable in tiny Arlington’s music store. But Doc Sr., a gifted amateur violinist, urged him to follow in his father’s footsteps. Little Doc had originally wanted to play the trombone. Carl H Severinsen was born on July 7th, 1927, and was nicknamed 'Little Doc' after his father, Dr. Severinsen's accomplishments began in his hometown of Arlington, Oregon, population: 600. ![]() They just released their most current CD, Oblivion, in January 2014. He now tours regularly with Gil in a quintet called The San Miguel Five, performing a mix of Latin and Gypsy jazz and standards, to exceptional acclaim. Within weeks, he was jamming with the magnificent guitarist Gil Gutierrez. In 2006, Doc moved to San Miguel de Allende, in Mexico, ostensibly to retire from performance. He received a Grammy Award for 'Best Jazz instrumental Performance – Big Band' for his recording of Doc Severinsen and The Tonight Show Band-Volume I. His other recordings include Unforgettably Doc with the Cincinnati Pops on Telarc, and the Grammy nominated Once More With Feeling on Amherst. The Very Best of Doc Severinsen reprises fifteen of Doc’s signature pieces. Two critically acclaimed Telarc CDs with the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra showcase his multifaceted talents from Bach to ballads. But as a band leader, Doc continues to surround himself with the best in the business, and he’s only too happy to give them a turn in the spotlight.Ī Grammy award winner, Doc has made more than 30 albums–from big band to jazz-fusion to classical. Severinsen can still blow hard with his horn, and hit the high notes, a result of his continued commitment to the practice studio and the refinement of his craft. Their repertoire includes Ellington and Basie standards, pop, jazz, ballads, big band classics and, of course, The Tonight Show theme. His musicianship keeps this iconic American music fresh to this day. Within a week of the final telecast, Doc Severinsen and His Big Band were on the road, and to this day, audiences across America love and respect Doc and his big band, not just because he shared their living room with them for so many years, but because of Doc’s love of the Big Band repertoire. ![]() Beginning in October 1962, The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson ruled the night air for thirty years. The ‘Johnny’ was Johnny Carson, the announcer was Ed McMahon and the bandleader was Doc Severinsen. "Heeeeere’s Johnny!” That lead-in, followed by a big band trumpet blast, was the landmark of late night television for three decades.
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