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 the age of 12, Little Doc won the Music Educators National Contest and, while still in high school, was hired to go on the road with the famous 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.

Doc arrived in New York City in 1949 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. An impressed conductor, Skitch Henderson, asked him to join that 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 and conduct major orchestras throughout the US and Canada. He held simultaneous titles as pops director for the Milwaukee Symphony, Minnesota Orchestra and the Phoenix Symphony ... read full bio