Doc Severinsen

Carl Hilding "Doc" Severinsen (* July 7, 1927 in Arlington / Oregon ) is an American jazz and pop trumpeter and bandleader.

Severinsen won at the age of twelve years, the Music Educators National Contest. Even as he went to high school, he became a member of Ted Fiorito Orchestra. From 1945 to 1952 he played in the bands of Tommy Dorsey, Benny Goodman, Noro Morales and Charlie Barnet. Since 1949 he worked for the National Broadcasting Company. He became in 1962 a member of Skitch Henderson's band at the The Tonight Show with Steve Allen.

He became famous as the leader of the band on The Tonight Show from 1967 to 1992 under Johnny Carson. His band consisted of, among others, drummer Ed Shaughnessy, pianist Ross Tompkins, saxophonist Ernie Watts and trumpeter Snooky Young. He stepped outside the Tonight Show with these musicians as Doc Severinsen and His Big Band and worked with bands such as the Kenny Clarke / Francy Boland Big Band, the Gerry Mulligan Concert Jazz Band and the Thad Jones / Mel Lewis Orchestra. He created in the 1960s albums are regarded as fine contributions to pop music this year. He played a total of a more than thirty albums and won the 1987 Grammy Award for Best Jazz Instrumental Performance - Big Band.

After his time at NBC, he joined continue on as a band leader. He conducted also capture the first Pops Concert of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, the Minnesota Orchestra and the Phoenix Symphony. Since 2001 he has been Visiting Professor ( distinguished visiting professor of music ) and owner of Katherine K. Herberger Heritage Chair for Visiting Artists of the School of Music at Arizona State University.

• Jazz trumpeter
• Bandleader
• American musician
• Born 1927
• Man