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. The ‘Johnny’ was Johnny Carson, the announcer was Ed McMahon and the bandleader was Doc Severinsen. Beginning in October 1962, The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson ruled the night air for thirty years. On May 22, 1992, it came to an end…

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. His musicianship keeps this iconic American music fresh to this day. Their repertoire includes Ellington and Basie standards, pop, jazz, ballads, big band classics and, of course, The Tonight Show theme. 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. 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.

A Grammy award winner, Doc has made more than 30 albums–from big band to jazz-fusion to classical. Two critically acclaimed Telarc CDs with the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra showcase his multifaceted talents from Bach to ballads. The Very Best of Doc Severinsen reprises fifteen of Doc’s signature pieces. His other recordings include Unforgettably Doc with the Cincinnati Pops on Telarc, and the Grammy nominated Once More With Feeling on Amherst. 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.

In 2006, Doc moved to San Miguel de Allende, in Mexico, ostensibly to retire from performance. Within weeks, he was jamming with the magnificent guitarist Gil Gutierrez. 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. They just released their most current CD, Oblivion, in January 2014.

Severinsen’s accomplishments began in his hometown of Arlington, Oregon, population: 600. Carl H Severinsen was born on July 7th, 1927, and was nicknamed “Little Doc” after his father, Dr. Carl Severinsen a dentist. Little Doc had originally wanted to play the trombone. But Doc Sr., a gifted amateur violinist, urged him to follow in his father’s footsteps. The Doc Jr. insisted on the trombone, which turned out to be unavailable in tiny Arlington’s music store. And so, a trumpet it would be. 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. 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. However, his stay with the group was cut short by the draft. He served in the Army during World War II and following his discharge, landed a spot with the Charlie Barnett Band. When this band broke up, Severinsen toured with the Tommy Dorsey, then, the Benny Goodman bands in the late 40’s.

After his days with Barnett and Dorsey, Doc arrived in New York City in 1949 to become a staff musician for NBC. After years of playing with NBC’s many studio bands, Doc was invited to play a gig in the highly respected Tonight Show Band. The band leader at the time, Skitch Henderson, asked him to join that band in 1962 in the first trumpet chair. Five years later, Doc became the Music Director for The Tonight Show and the rest is history. His loyalty to Johnny Carson and Ed McMahon never faltered, and the warm camaraderie between the three was an enormous part of the show’s success. When Johnny decided to retire from The Tonight Show, Doc and Ed said their goodbyes as well. Of course, free from the nightly grind of the TV studio, Doc Severinsen had far more time to expand his musical horizons and continues to keep an extensive touring schedule.

In addition to his San Miguel 5 appearances, Doc tours regularly with his own Big Band and continues to perform with symphony orchestras all over the country. Over the years has been Principal Pops Conductor with the Phoenix Symphony, the Milwaukee Symphony, the Minnesota Orchestra, the Colorado Symphony, the Pacific Symphony and the Buffalo Philharmonic.

Doc performs on a S.E. Shires Severinsen Destino III, a trumpet he developed with Steve Shires and the S.E. Shires Company in Massachusetts. The factory has 25 craftsmen who are professional, working brass players and totally understand what is involved in making great brass instruments. The S.E. Shires Company features a line of trumpets that includes the S.E. Shires Severinsen Destino III which was developed through Doc’s supervision until his exacting standards of quality and sound were achieved. Doc continues to make regular visits to the factory.

Today, Doc has not lost his flair for the outrageous fashion statement or his trademark wit. But his gregarious nature has never interfered with the fact that he has been one of the greatest trumpeters and musicians of the last 60 years, respected in the worlds of classical music, jazz, big band, and now even world music. In the end, Doc Severinsen has transcended his celebrity, and rejoiced in his remarkable ability to simply play his trumpet as well as he can. Which has proven to be good enough for the millions of people who count themselves his fans.
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Doc Severinsen

by Joseph Vella
December 3, 2021

Tom visits with legendary trumpeter and bandleader Doc Severinsen. The two friends talk about Doc's beginnings on trumpet, early influences, leading the Tonight Show Band with Johnny Carson, and recording the album Brand New Thing that Tom produced with Doc. ...

Film Review

Never Too Late: The Doc Severinsen Story

by Nicholas F. Mondello
December 2, 2020

Doc Severinsen Never Too Late: The Doc Severinsen Story A film by Kevin Bright & Jeff Consiglio Just Bright Productions2020 Never Too Late (Just Bright Productions, 2020) is a meticulously produced and emotion-grabbing documentary portrait of the musical career and life of trumpeter Doc Severinsen. While Duke Ellington may have said “Music is My Mistress," in the case of “Never Too Late" we discover—and superbly at that—that Severinsen's career is a “musical Mona ...

Live Review

Doc Severinsen and the San Miguel 5: Phoenix, AZ, May 1, 2013

by Patricia Myers
May 18, 2013

Doc Severinsen and the San Miguel 5Musical Instrument MuseumPhoenix, AZMay 1, 2013Octogenarian bandleader Doc Severinsen has somehow added new fire to his legendary power and vibrancy in a sizzling coalition that melds Latin gusto with jazz zest. The trumpeter, who will be 86 on July 7, 2013, delivered pyrotechnical proficiency and sustained ending-phrase notes as strongly as his younger horn players.The San Miguel 5 is Severinsen's second alliance with virtuoso Mexican guitarist Gil ...

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Album Review

Doc Severinsen: Swingin' the Blues

by Dave Nathan
August 1, 2000

P>Over the last few years, Doc Severinsen has kept a big band together by playing concerts and touring. This successor to the Tonight Show Band, so important to the success of the Johnny Carson show, continues to feature fresh, imaginative arrangements and stellar musicians to perform them. Many members of the group not only played with Severinsen on the Tonight show, but have their roots in the big band, swing tradition like Conte Candoli, Bill Perkins and especially Snooky Young ...

Performance / Tour

Jazz this week: Cory Henry, The Bosman Twins, Doc Severinsen, Fred Wesley, Linda Presgrave, and more

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman
March 10, 2016

It's a busy week for jazz and creative music in St. Louis, with several headliners of interest passing through the metro area for performances that, alas, may be a bit off the beaten track- unless you know just where to look. Let's go to the highlights... Wednesday, March 9 The Lindenwood University Jazz Band performs at Jazz at the Bistro, and multi-intrumentalist Chris Smentkowski and friends play at the Tavern of Fine Arts. Thursday, March 10 Keyboardist Cory Henry of ...
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Performance / Tour

Jazz This Week: Greater St. Louis Jazz Festival with Anat Cohen, Matt Wilson, Doc Severinsen, Monterey Jazz Festival 55th Anniversary Tour; and More

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman
April 18, 2013

While this week's big event for jazz and creative music in St. Louis is the Greater St. Louis Jazz Festival, featuring a number of nationally known touring musicians, there also are plenty of noteworthy performances featuring local players coming up in the next few days. Let's go to the highlights... Tonight, singer Mary Dyson and pianist Brock Walker's trio will play at Troy's Jazz Gallery; Cabaret Project St. Louis presents their monthly open mic night at the Tavern of Fine ...
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Event

Columbus Jazz Orchestra Kicks Off 40th Anniversary Season With Doc Severinsen

Source: Scott Vezdos
September 13, 2012

Columbus, OH – The Jazz Arts Group of Columbus (JAG) is proud to present the 40th anniversary season of the Columbus Jazz Orchestra (CJO) under the direction of world-renowned bandleader and trumpet virtuoso Byron Stripling. Helping to kick off the ruby season of the CJO is none other than legendary Tonight Show bandleader and Grammy Award-winner Doc Severinsen in “40 Years with Jazz Arts Group" (Sept. 28-29, 2012 at the Southern Theatre). This exclusive two-night performance will also feature one ...
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Interview

Jazz Face: Heeeeere's Doc!

Source: JazzINK by Andrea Canter
February 25, 2012

My friend Joan says she has discovered the secret to eternal youth: Play the trumpet into your 80s and lead a band of hot talents half your age. That formula probably won't work for most of us but it sure seems like the right recipe for Doc Severinsen, in town this past week leading his Big Band at the Dakota. At 84, Doc could have really retired after 30 years leading the Tonight Show Band, but in the 20 years ...
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Performance / Tour

Concert Review: Doc Severinsen and el Ritmo de la Vida (10/16/2010)

Source: Groove Notes
October 25, 2010

One unfortunate phrase that is too often uttered when referring to older jazz musicians who come to town for a concert is “You better go see them now, because you never know if you will have the chance to see them again." While legendary trumpeter and bandleader Doc Severinsen is 83 years old, I find that phrase hardly applicable after seeing him in concert at the Kirkland Performance Center on October 16th. Not only are Doc's chops still in good ...
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Interview

An Interview with Doc Severinsen

Source: Groove Notes
October 12, 2010

I was fortunate enough to interview Doc Severinsen last week by telephone, reaching him before a concert on the road in Columbus, Ohio. Below are two links. The first is a short 5 1/2 minute produced piece featuring highlights from his interview as well as music, and audio from The Tonight Show. The second link is the 28 minute full interview with Doc. Also included in this post is video and photos of Doc, as well as a transcript of ...
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Music Industry

Doc Severinsen: Got His Destino

Source: All About Jazz
May 8, 2008

Doc Severinsen releases new “American-made" Destino.

Completing the play-testing of the first eight B-flat trumpets, Doc Severinsen announced the release of his “American-made" Destino B-flat and C trumpets. Doc Severinsen proclaimed, “I wanted to be sure that we would be able to maintain the quality we have established over the last year and I am happy to say we have." Doc's dream has always been to have a trumpet made by trumpet players for trumpet players, and to offer that ...
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