| Tonight Show Band |
Article Index for Tonight |
Shopping Tonight |
Website Links For Tonight Show |
Information AboutTonight Show Band |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT TONIGHT SHOW BAND | |
| jazz ensembles | |
| tonight show band | |
| tonight show | |
| big bands | |
|
The band was founded in 1954, and its first long-term director was Skitch Henderson (1954-57). Henderson was replaced by Jose Melis in 1957, when Jack Paar took over as host from Steve Allen . Henderson returned in 1962 when Johnny Carson took over from Paar. Carson increased the band budget, and Henderson created a major jazz Big Band by hiring some of the best Jazz musicians from the touring Big Band s which were going out of business at the time, and by commissioning charts from top jazz arrangers. The new band included Clark Terry , Bobby Rosengarden , Doc Severinsen , Urbie Green , and Ernie Royal , among others. In 1966, Henderson left the show and was replaced by Milton DeLugg , who in 1967 was replaced by Severinsen. Severinsen continued to add important musicians to the band, including Louie Bellson , Allen Vizzutti, and Snooky Young . During the Carson era, the band was always billed as "The NBC Orchestra," and sometimes "Doc Severinsen and the NBC Orchestra." In 1992, when Jay Leno replaced Carson, Branford Marsalis took over as musical director, and the number of band members was reduced. Marsalis was succeeded in 1995 by Kevin Eubanks . |
|
|