Azica Records, Inc.
Recording Artist Profile...

Doc Severinsen

Doc Severinsen is one of today's most dynamic instrumentalists - and certainly the most dazzling. Doc travels the country performing with symphony orchestras and big bands, making recordings and commercials, plus designing and manufacturing trumpets. Doc plays sizzling jazz and Big band tunes with the acclaimed former "Tonight Show" Band, now known as Doc Severinsen and His Big Band. Doc's new recording with Azica Records, "Swingin' the Blues," is his first big band album in several years, and the only one with his current big band.

Well known to television audiences as the flamboyant Grammy Award-winning Music Director of "The Tonight Show," Doc has established an inventive multi-dimensional career. He performs concerts in an array of musical styles and joins classical and pop music groups, as well as being a guest conductor/performer with scores of symphony orchestras. Doc is Principal Pops Conductor of the Phoenix Symphony, the Minnesota Orchestra, and the Milwaukee Symphony.

Doc has recorded more than 30 albums, from Big band to jazz fusion to classical. Prior his new recording with Azica, his next most recent recordings include "Unforgettably Doc" with the Cincinnati Pops on the Telarc label and the Grammy-nominated "Once More With Feeling" on the Amherst label. He received a Grammy Award in 1987 for "Best Jazz Instrumental Performance - Big Band" for his recording, "Doc Severinsen and The Tonight Show Band - Volume 1."

In addition to his performing career, Severinsen, in partnership with Dick Akright, has designed "the ultimate horn." Christened the "Bel Canto," the instrument was passionately designed for the professional player to encompass the best of Old World craftsmanship and modern technology, and is available in limited production.

Severinsen's successes date back to his hometown of Arlington, Oregon. Nicknamed "Little Doc" after his father, Dr. Carl Severinsen, a dentist, Little Doc had originally wanted to play the trombone, but the senior Severinsen, a gifted amateur violinist, urged him to study violin. The younger Severinsen insisted on the trombone, but had to settle with the only horn available in their small community: a trumpet. One week later, with the help of his father and a book of instructions, the seven-year old was so good that he was invited to join the high school band. At the age of twelve, Little Doc won the Music Educator's National Contest and, while still in high school, was hired to go on the road with the famous Ted Fio Rito Orchestra.

After completing his education and serving in the army, Severinsen toured with the Tommy Dorsey, Benny Goodman and Charlie Barnet bands. He finally settled down in New York as an NBC staff musician in 1949, joining the "Tonight Show" Orchestra in 1962, and becoming Musical Director in 1967. Somewhere the "Little" was lost, but "Doc" stayed and became known to audiences across America.

Doc also enjoys horses, cooking (Italian is his specialty), collecting American art and keeping fit with daily runs and workouts - interests he shares with his wife, television producer/writer Emily Marshall.

Azica Release

Swingin' The BluesAJD-72215

Doc Severinsen and his Big Band

Doc Severinsen, trumpet & flugelhorn
Barbara Morrison, vocals
Ed Shaughnessy, drums
Ernie Watts, tenor saxophone

These and all other Azica jazz releases are featured in the Jazz Library.