Few trumpet players have been able to influence the trumpet world as much as “Doc” Severinsen.
Through his long term as musical director of the Tonight Show Band with Johnny Carson he became a household name which was recognized by all. His flamboyant dress code and his back home humor was a refreshing contrast to the polished and sometimes elite attitude of many guest visiting the Tonight Show stage. Each night this wonderful orchestra entertained us with everything from hard bop to symphonic scores and at the helm each and every night with this sometimes humble and often spectacular trumpet player.
I have been fortunate to have visited with Doc a couple times and always came away with a smile on my face and a song in my heart for the room would light up as “Little Doc” shared his stories of encounters. While performing at the University of Northern Illinois, I was assigned to the great task of escorting and entertaining Mr. Severinsen around campus that afternoon. As I remember on that tour, our guest was far more interested in our coeds than the history of the campus.
Also vivid in my memory was the personalization he demonstrated as he performed the first movement of the Hyden Concerto for trumpet. That was the first and only time I ever heard a two octave shake at the end of its cadenza. Perhaps he had a different arrangement than the rest of us.
Doc Severinsen has had some very high moments in his career as well as troubled times and he is still performing. In fact this week he will be playing a concert in Dallas but unfortunately, I will miss it by only a few days.
The videos I have included in this post were carefully selected to give our readers a taste of his humor as well as some examples during his earlier career.
The impact of a person is sometimes illustrated by just the impact of hearing their name such as Elvis, Maynard, Miles, Bird. And the name “Doc” will last into the future also as we remember the sometimes flamboyant as well as humble life of this great trumpet player. If you get a chance to hear him today, be sure to make it for legends are hard to build and should never be forgotten.
If you would like to read more about “Doc” go to his Web site at….. http://www.docseverinsen.com/about/
For more information about him and where he is performing.
Thanks “Doc” and thanks for spending your afternoon with a young trumpet player from Illinois.
This collection of videos was compiled by trumpetvids. Check them out on YouTube.com
