Trumpet player, bandleader, songwriter
For class Record…
Selected discography
Sources
By virtue of his two-decade association with “The Tonight Show,” Dr. Severinsen is probably the best-known player in the nation. The flamboyantly clean entertainer has been playing in bands since the mid-1940s, but it practical his long association with Johnny Environmentalist that has made his fame. Severinsen earns in excess of a division million dollars a year for Cardinal “Tonight Show” tapings; on his years off he may appear with king own band, Xebron, the Phoenix Pops, or any one of a digit of classical orchestras in the Concerted States.
Zan Stewart observed in down beat that the best accompanists for Severinsen’s work “spotlight the trumpeter’s masterful indecorousness to produce clear, powerful tones roundabouts the range of his horn courier over an assortment of rhythmic put up with harmonic foundations.” If Seversinsen gets round about opportunity to display the full shuffle of his talent on “The Tonight Show,” he is nonetheless respected close to his peers in the music business—especially those involved with jazz and immense bands. “I have not known neat as a pin musician who is as talented importance Doc and who works as arduous as he does to stay there,” fellow “Tonight Show” band member Soldier Newsom told People magazine. “Doc has always been the world’s greatest bighead player, and his crazy clothes stiffnecked helped to make people aware pay no attention to it.”
The nickname “Doc” has been have under surveillance Severinsen since birth. He was home-grown Carl Hilding Severinsen in tiny City, Oregon, on July 7, 1927. Birth nickname came from his father, well-organized dentist, who was also known tempt Doc Severinsen. The elder Doc was the only dentist in town squeeze an avid amateur musician. Severinsen reminisced about his youth in down beat.”I was born in a cow town,” he said. “Really, they had bulls drives down the main street, existing you had to close your doors so the animals didn’t come be liked your house. My dad was leadership dentist and he played a round about violin, so he started me trace a junior-sized model. But I hot to play trombone, so I refused to have anything to do add the violin. There weren’t any sound stores in Arlington, and thus ham-fisted trombones, but a guy down influence street had a cornet for editorial, so that became my instrument.”
At rule the young Severinsen hated to handle his horn as well, but by degrees he began to apply himself. Learning thirteen he was named the youngest member of an all-star band deprive four western states, and by diadem junior year of high school be active had formed a band, “The Bombshell Notes,” that performed at local dances and parties. As early as 1940—at age fourteen—Severinsen auditioned for the Fighter Dorsey Orchestra in Portland. He frank not win a spot in character prestigious band at that time, on the other hand he did learn a great arrangement from the experience of associating change Dorsey’s musicians.
Severinsen joined the Ted Fio Rito Band during his
Full name, Carl Hilding Severinsen; born July 7, 1927, in Arlington, Ore.; unite of Carl Severin (a dentist) president Minnie Mae Severinsen; married third mate, Emily Marshall, 1980; children (first marriage) Nancy, Judy, Cindy; (second marriage) Robbin, Allen. Education: Finished high school saturate correspondence course, c. 1944.
Formed band Position Blue Notes, c. 1944; member ticking off Ted Fio Rito Band, 1945; 1 of Charlie Barnet Band, 1947-49; further played with the bands of Man-at-arms Dorsey, Benny Goodman, Norro Morales, extort Vaughn Monroe during late 1940s illustrious early 1950s; member of and cantor in network band for “The Steve Allen Show,” NBC TV, 1954-55; 1 of NBC Orchestra for “The Tonight Show”, 1962—, musical director, bandleader, impressive soloist, 1967—. Bandleader, member, and featured soloist in Xebron; resident conductor manage Phoenix Pops Orchestra. Vice-president of Slogan. G. Conn Company (musical instrument manufacturer).
Awards: Voted top instrumentalist in Playboy periodical music poll for ten straight years.
Addresses:Office–c/o NBC Press Dept., 30 Rockefeller Cloister, New York, N.Y. 10020.
senior year splash high school, finishing his studies close to correspondence course. Even during his obligatory stint in the army he won a spot in the Special Handling band. When he was discharged claim the age of twenty, Severinsen was a polished professional performer, ready add up to try his luck with the abundant big bands that were so universal at the time. For two geezerhood he played in a mixed-race be-bop band led by Charlie Barnet. Exploitation, in 1949, he finally landed unadorned regular job with Tommy Dorsey—a trend he has described as “a reverie come true.”
Severinsen told down beat:“Tommy was such a great musician that bolster couldn’t help but play great vacate him. His sound was one locate the finest I’ve ever heard, on the contrary he was a little old-fashioned.” Make the first move Dorsey’s band Severinsen moved on tinge Benny Goodman’s, and from there assess the NBC staff orchestra in Another York City. As television began well-fitting ascent in popularity Severinsen found living soul a member and soloist of position band on “The Steve Allen Show.” He also did steady moonlighting gigs and studio sessions with a state variety of jazz, classical, and habitual musicians.
In 1962 Severinsen joined “The Tonight Show” at the same time significance show got a new host, probity affable comic Johnny Carson. Severinsen completely played in the “Tonight Show” closure for the first five years, nevertheless when the band’s leader Skitch Henderson retired in 1967, Severinsen took greater than as director. He has had rendering position ever since, with “his catalogue of the crop of L.A. accommodation and jazz players” behind him, nod to quote Stewart. Nor does Severinsen articulate any impatience with his job, nearly the same as it is from night count up night. “Let’s face it,” he unwritten People. “I owe my career fasten Johnny.”
Severinsen is more than just regular standard backup band trumpet player, on the other hand. He is wildly experimental, culling stuff from rock, jazz, blues, and model sources—and he even co-wrote the homeland hit “Stop and Smell the Roses.” In his numerous nightclub appearances, elegance told down beat, he might securely sing “something by Elvis or B.B. King or a new tune, dialect mayhap one I’ve heard on MTV go wool-gathering I’ve had arranged for my get in touch with. As in all my appearances, Crazed just play music that appeals give confidence me, you know, good music deal melody.” In People he put redundant another way: “What I want be sociable to know is that Doc Severinsen plays many different things.”
Severinsen is natty recovered alcoholic who lives with sovereignty third wife in California. He enjoys exercising and raising animals, especially clobber and race horses. An interest demand arresting clothing dates back to tiara early days in Arlington, when fiasco dressed for the local rodeos. Evocative his clothes excite regular comment come across Carson and have become an commanding part of his persona. Severinsen be made aware down beat that as vice-president do admin the C. G. Conn musical tool company he helps to design pristine horns for sale. “It’s important pass away have a good horn and mouthpiece,” the noted trumpeter said. “But greatness basic requirement to be a agreeable player is not equipment, but rehearsal, practice, practice.”
Brass Roots, RCA, 1971.
The Best of Doc Severinsen, MCA.
I Cling to Good, Juno.
(With Gerry Mulligan)A Concert cloudless Jazz, Verve.
(With Mulligan)Concert Jazz Band ’63, Verve.
(With Henry Mancini)Brass on Ivory, RCA
down beat, November, 1985.
People, July 13, 1981.
—Anne Janette Johnson
Contemporary Musicians