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![[Doc Severinsen]](/images/_images/_musicians/doc_severinsenx95.jpg)
Doc Severinsen
trumpet
Doc Severinsen’s accomplishments began in his hometown of Arlington, Oregon, population 600. Carl H. Severinsen was born on July 7, 1927, and was nicknamed “Little Doc” after his father, Dr. Carl Severinsen, a dentist. Little Doc has originally wanted to play 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 age twelve, Little Doc won the Music Educators National Contest and, while still in high school, went on the road with the Ted Fio Rito Orchestra. He served in the Army during World War II and, following his discharge, landed a spot with the Charlie Barnett Band. When this band broke up, Severinsen toured with the Tommy Dorsey and Benny Goodman bands in the late 1940s. In 1949 Doc arrived in New York City to become a staff musician for NBC. After years of playing with the peacock network’s studio bands, he was invited to do a gig with the highly respected “Tonight Show” Band. The impressed conductor, Skitch Henderson, asked him to join the band in 1962 as first trumpet. Five years later, Doc took over as music director, where he stayed until 1992. After the “Tonight Show,” Doc continued to perform with and conduct major orchestras throughout the United States and Canada. He held simultaneous titles as pops director for the Milwaukee Symphony, Minnesota Orchestra, and Phoenix Symphony. Doc Severinsen’s more than 30 albums include two critically acclaimed Telarc CDs with the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, which showcase his multifaceted talents from Bach to ballads. The Very Best of Doc Severinsen reprises fifteen of Doc’s signature pieces. His other recordings include Unforgettably Doc with the Cincinnati Pops (Telarc), and the Grammy-nominated Once More With Feeling (Amherst). He received a Grammy Award for Best Jazz Instrumental Performance—Big Band for his recording of Doc Severinsen and The Tonight Show Band-Volume I. Doc Severinsen and His Big Band/Swingin’ the Blues was released with Ed Shaughnessy and Ernie Watts. Since moving to Mexico at the end of 2006, Doc has maintained a busy performance schedule and made new discoveries in two very talented musicians from Mexico. Together with these gentlemen, Doc has crafted an innovative and exciting program. “El Ritmo de la Vida” (“The Rhythm of Life”) is a very apt description of Gil Gutierrez and Pedro Cartas and their music. According to Doc, “I came to Mexico with retirement on my mind, but when I heard them play I knew that I would be playing with them for some time to come. Latino music, along with the blues, has always been among my favorites, and Gil and Pedro do it along with a European style that I love and so do our audiences.” Doc and “El Ritmo” are touring throughout 2009-10 with stops in the midwest and northeast United States. Doc Severinsen’s most recent Boston Pops appearances were in June 2000, as conductor and soloist.
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