Tonight Show Band

The Tonight Show Band is the band which plays on the American television variety show, “The Tonight Show.” From 1962 to the 1990s, during the years the show was known as “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson”, the band was a 17-piece Big Band, and was an important outlet for jazz on American television. During the Carson era, the band was always billed as “The NBC Orchestra” (not to be confused with the NBC Symphony Orchestra) and sometimes “Doc Severinsen and the NBC Orchestra.”

History

The band was founded in 1954, coincidental to the NBC Symphony Orchestra being disbanded. 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 bands 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, Ed Shaughnessy, and Ernie Royal, among others.

Tonight Show Band Members

Current Under Leno

Rickey Minor and The Tonight Show Band

Leader/Bass: Rickey Minor
Saxophone: Randolph Ellis, Miguel Gandelman
Trumpet: Raymond Monterio
Trombone: Garrett Smith
Keyboard: J. Wayne Linsey, David Delhomme
Guitar: Paul Jackson, Jr.
Drums: Teddy Campbell
Percussion: Kevin Ricard
Vocals: Dorian Holley

Former Under O'Brien

Max Weinberg and The Tonight Show Band

Drums, Bandleader: Max Weinberg
Electric Guitar, Fill-In Bandleader: Jimmy Vivino
Trombone, Tambourine: Richie “LaBamba” Rosenberg
Saxophones, Flute, Clarinet: Jerry Vivino
Trumpet, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals: Mark Pender
Keyboards: Scott Healy, Kenny Kirkland
Bass Guitar: Mike Merritt
Percussion, Fill-In Drums: James Wormworth
Fill-In Percussion: Ronnie Gutierrez

Former Under Leno

Kevin Eubanks and The Tonight Show Band

Leader/Guitar: Kevin Eubanks
Saxophone: Ralph Moore
Trumpet: Kye Palmer, Lee Thornburg, Chuck Findley
Trombone: Matt Finders
Keyboard: Gerry Etkins, Kenny Kirkland
Bass: Derrick “Dock” Murdock, Stanley Sarggeant, Bob Hurst, Kenny Davis
Drums: Marvin “Smitty” Smith, Jeff “Tain” Watts
Percussion/Vocals: Vicki Randle

Former Under Carson

Trumpet: Conte Candoli (1968 - 1992), Clark Terry, Snooky Young (1967 - 1992), Maurey Harris
Trumpet/Flugelhorn/Bandleader: Doc Severinsen
Trumpet/Flugelhorn: John Audino, Allen Vizzutti, Chuck Findley
Trombone: Gilbert Falco, Bruce Paulson
Bass Trombone: Ernie Tack
Alto Sax/Clarinet/Flute: John Bambridge
Alto Sax/Arranger/Assistant Bandleader: Tommy Newsom (1962 - 1992)
Tenor Sax/Flute/Clarinet: Pete Christlieb, Bill Perkins, Ernie Watts
Tenor Sax/Bandleader: Branford Marsalis
Baritone Sax/Bass Sax/Flute/Euphonium: Don Ashworth
Guitar: Bob Bain, Peter Woodford, Tony Mottola, Bucky Pizzarelli
Piano: Ross Tompkins
Fill-In Piano: Russ Freeman
Bass: Joel DiBartolo
Drums: Jack Sperling (1962), Shelly Manne (1963), Ed Shaughnessy, Louie Bellson

Additional former members of the New York Tonight Show Band from 1962 on (not including those already mentioned) included:

Trumpets: Bob McCoy, John Frosk, Dick Perry, Jimmy Maxwell, Joe Ferrante, Yank Lawson, Mel Davis, Bernie Glo, Carl Poole
Trombones: Sy Berger, Will Bradley, Buddy Morrow, Bob Alexander, Sonny Russo, Willie Dennis, Herb Wise, Paul Faulise, Dick Lieb
Saxophones: Walt Levinsky, Don Raffell, Hymie Schertzer, Sid Cooper, Paul Ricci, Dean Kincaid, Arnie Lawrence, Harold Feldman, Al Klink, Al Howard, Wally Kane, Bobby Tricarico, Lew Tabackin
Piano: Derek Smith
Guitar: Bucky Pizzarelli, Gene Bertoncini
Bass: Eddy Safranski, Bob Haggart, Julie Ruggiero, Bill Takis
Drums: Grady Tate

Original Steve Allen Tonight

Steve Allen--not Johnny Carson, not Jack Paar--was the progenitor of the late-night TV yapfest, and Alba's tribute to his pioneering includes current midnight-oil-burning rivals Leno and Letterman acknowledging their indebtedness. Less known than his trailblazing is the fact that Allen was instrumental in bringing African American stars to network TV. On the other hand, and seemingly incongruous with championing black entertainers, hisTonight Show writers included Bill Dana, whose Jose Jimenez performing persona was a long-lived example of another kind of racial stereotyping in TV comedy.

Allen dedicated jazz fan, Allen introduced a soupcon of hipness to TV, too, that for many was mitigated, however, by such tiresome routines as his dramatic readings of the lyrics of “Be-Bop-A-Lula” and other rock songs. Yet he perceptively interviewed an eclectic roster of guests. A complicated guy.

NBC Symphony Orchestra being disbanded. Its first long-term director was Skitch Henderson (1954 - 57). Henderson was replaced by Jose Melis in 1957