| Doc Severinsen | |
|---|---|
 Doc Severinsen during The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carsons 18th Anniversary Special in 1980
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Carl Hilding Severinsen |
| Born | July 7 1927 |
| Origin |  Arlington, Oregon U.S. |
| Genre(s) | Jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Bandleader Trumpeter |
| Instrument(s) | Trumpet |
| Associated acts |
Tommy Dorsey Benny Goodman |
Carl Hilding "Doc" Severinsen (born July 7, 1927 in Arlington, Oregon) is an American pop and jazz trumpeter, best known for leading the NBC Orchestra in the Johnny Carson era.
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Early life
Carl 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 the senior Severinsen, a gifted amateur violinist, urged him to study the violin. The younger Severinsen insisted on the trombone, but had to settle for the only horn available in Arlington's small music store — a trumpet. 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 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.
Post-war career
Following his discharge from the army at the end of the war, Severinsen landed a spot with the Charlie Barnett Band. When this band broke up, Severinsen toured with Tommy Dorsey, and then, the Benny Goodman big band in the late 40's. Sometime in late 1948, Doc arrived in New York City and was hired to be a staff musician for NBC. After years of playing with the peacock network’s studio bands, Severinsen was invited to do a gig with the highly respected Tonight Show Band. An impressed conductor, Skitch Henderson, asked him to join that band in 1962 as first trumpet. Five years later, Doc took over as Music Director for The Tonight Show.
The Tonight Show
During his tenure as musical director, the Tonight Show's NBC Orchestra was the most visible jazz big band in America. Severinsen took the opportunity to update many well-known jazz standards for the show's audiences, often introducing new listeners to classics by Cole Porter, Dizzy Gillespie and others. Severinsen would sometimes substitute for Ed McMahon as announcer and sidekick. Although adept at comic interplay, Severinsen took his role as band leader on the Tonight Show seriously and campaigned for the band to get featured slots during the show. Severinsen continued as band leader until Carson's retirement in 1992.
Recording career
During the 1950s and 1960s, Severinsen put out a number of albums of jazz standards, over which he performed very melodic solos. Severinsen certainly had a well-developed high-note range with an incredible amount of control and melodic sense. In the 1960s, Severinsen also recorded with the Clarke/Boland Big Band and the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis band. Severinsen was also the second trumpeter whose recording of the fanfare "Abblasen," composed by Gottfried Reiche, has been used as the theme for the CBS News program Sunday Morning. During his years with the Tonight Show and afterwards, Severinsen released albums that had a pop-rock basis, some of which had electronic instrumentation components, such as "Brass Roots", "Good Medicine" and "Facets". These albums had varying degrees of acceptance by the public. Several recent recordings feature him playing classical trumpet repertoire.
Conducting and academic career
Severinsen was the principal pops conductor for several American orchestras during and after his tenure on the Tonight Show. His first was with the Phoenix Symphony in 1983 [1]. He held similar positions with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra, the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, and the Minnesota Orchestra. He retired from active conducting in 2007, and was named Pops Conductor Emeritus in Milwaukee[2] and Pops Conductor Laureate in Minnesota [3]. Severinsen was also Distinguished Visiting Professor of Music and Katherine K. Herberger Heritage Chair for Visiting Artists at Arizona State University School of Music in 2001-2002. [4] He has also conducted the New York Pops at the world-famous Carnegie Hall in New York City.
Personal life
To this day, Severinsen remains in amazing physical condition, as well as retaining his musical ability. He lives in San Miguel, Mexico with his wife, Emily. His adult children are Nancy Severinsen, Cindy Reinhard and Allen Severinsen. He has three grandchildren in New Jersey (Blaire, Gray, and Richard Reinhard), all of them musicians. Blaire Reinhard is a professional session singer and has composed for several television shows and films. Blaire and Gray formed a soul, funk, rock band called "The Blaire Reinhard Band" and play regularly at clubs in New York City. Doc owns Severinsen Custom Trumpets, manufacturer of custom-made horns, including his Destino line of trumpets (and he play-tests each one) [5]. Severinsen also enjoys cooking and collecting American art.
Trivia
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Severinsen arranged the score for the nudist-themed cult film Nude on the Moon (1961). Severinsen was the first grand marshal of the Krewe of Endymion in New Orleans' biggest Mardi Gras parade. On Doc's Christmas album with the Tonight Show Band, he had his then nine year old granddaughter Blaire Reinhard record the vocal solo on "Silent Night". In Super Bowl IV in 1970, trumpeters Al Hirt and Doc Severinsen "faced off" during the pregame show in a "Battle of the Horns". Apparently, Severinsen gave up drinking at some time in the 1950-1960's, later commenting how much easier it was to play high notes without a hangover. A Doc Severinsen recording of "Georgia on My Mind" was used as the theme song for the opening and closing credits during seasons three, four, and five of "Designing Women"
