by Ticia

Created on: January 26, 2009

So who is Doc Severinson? He was one of the best known trumpet players in America. I only knew of him as the fantastic band leader who played the trumpet and dressed in flashy leisure suits on the Johnny Carson Show. He was also Johnny's sidekick when Ed McMahon was not available. But there is much more to this man who brought us many albums of entertainment and made various appearances with pop orchestras across our nation.

He was born Carl H. Severinsen on July 7, 1927 in Arlington, Oregon to Carl and Minnie Mae. He was nicknamed "Little Doc" after his father who was a dentist and a gifted amateur violinist himself. The violin is the instrument in which Doc's father wanted him to begin to learn but Doc was set on the trombone at the age of 7. The trumpet was the only brass instrument available in the small town they lived in. Doc practiced and practiced until he got so good he was playing with the school band. When he was 12 years old, he won the Music Educators National Contest. This was the beginning of a long and successful career for this young man.

While in High School he traveled with the TED FIO RITO Orchestra but this was a short lived experience for Doc. The draft called him to serve during World War II in the United States Army but it wasn't long after that he was back in the highlight of his career.

In 1945 he was touring with bands such as Tommy Dorsey as a featured soloist and also toured with Benny Goodman, Charlie Barnet and Noro Morales. He worked as a staff musician for NBC in New York in 1949. In 1952 he appeared on the Steve Allen Tonight Show as a member of the Skitch Henderson's orchestra. Naturally, Henderson was very impressed with Doc and hired him to assist him as the orchestra leader when Johnny Carson took over the Tonight Show in 1962. In 1967, Doc became the musical director and stayed with Johnny until 1992 when Johnny Carson retired.

Doc used this opportunity not only to promote himself but also introducing the listeners to other classics such as Dizzy Gillespie and more. Although a sometimes sidekick in the absence of Ed McMahon, Doc was very serious about his music and the role he had on this show bringing excellence in his performance and career overall.

During this period of time on the Tonight Show, Doc had much opportunity due to his tremendous talent. He recorded several albums on his own and also with the orchestra he led on the show which had now earned a reputation as one of the best big-bands. Once the band broke up after the retiring of Johnny Carson, Doc made guest appearances around the country and traveled with some of the band members.

Currently, Doc lives in Mexico with his wife Emily and still performs in a local restaurant. He also performs with a group called El Ritmo De La Vida.

He has three grown children and three grandchildren who are all musically inclined in professional singing and composing for various television shows and films.

Doc also owns Severinsen Custom Trumpets, which is a manufacturer of custom made horns which he tests himself.

In 1987, Doc Severinsen brought the Tonight Show orchestra to a Grammy winner for Best Jazz Large Ensemble Recording.

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