Doc Severinsen, Nudie and Me...

Music and the arts are not just something to make people feel good. They elevate the soul and broaden the entire personality.
Doc Severinsen

Big Bags (1962) signed by Doc, Milt Jackson,, James Moody, Ron Carter, Jimmy Heath, Hank Jones, Jerome Richardson, Willie Ruff, Clark Terry — ***Big Bags (1962)*** *signed by Doc, Milt Jackson,, James Moody, Ron Carter, Jimmy Heath, Hank Jones, Jerome Richardson, Willie Ruff, Clark Terry*

My first night on the show, I thought “Wow. What am I going to wear?" So I was walking down a street in New York, and passed a place that sold ties. And they had some really wild ties. And (I) wore one on the show that night. And I come out, and it was like throwing raw meat to a lion. He just went right for it. And I would come out every night in something that was pretty far out. And after I had been on the show for a lot of years, one night I just said “Aw, the heck with it. I am just going to wear a blue suit tonight." Well, I gave a cutoff to the band, and went up to my dressing room, and there was an immediate message from Johnny: “What in the hell was wrong with your outfit tonight?" And it never happened again.
Doc Severinsen

Command Performances (1966) signed by Doc Severinsen — ***Command Performances (1966)*** signed by Doc Severinsen

Desperation. I was always afraid that if I didn’t succeed, I’d have to go back to eastern Oregon and do what I was doing in the first place. That was working in a gas station.
Doc Severinsen on motivation

The Great Arrival (1968) signed by Doc — ***The Great Arrival (1968)*** signed by Doc

When Doc asked if I would write a few words to accompany this album, Doc Severinsen, The Great Arrival, he was somewhat embarrassed about the title. I think the word “Great” underlined bothered him. And Doc wasn’t being coy about it… he’s that kind of guy. But the title is not undeserved. Doc is great in every sense of the word. I often wonder how anyone can have such absolute control over his instrument. One of my joys each night is being able to listen to the Tonight Show band, and notice the mutual respect between Doc and the rest of the musicians. The album speaks for itself, Doc Severinsen is great.
Johnny Carson

Carl "Doc' Severinsen, a great trumpeter and entertainer, was the leader of the Tonight Show Orchestra for twenty-five years until Johnny Carson retired in 1992. He is best known for his breezy, affable stage presence, while serving as a comic foil to Johnny Carsons' acerbic wit. Doc also wore the most flamboyant stage clothes, particularly in the 1970s. Tom Waits may have been peeking in Doc's closet when he sang about "a serious seersucker Saturday evening cranberry accoutrement ensemble" or "danger high voltage slacks." No outfit was too loud or garish for Doc to wear.

Doc Severinsen’s Closet (1970) signed by Doc — ***Doc Severinsen’s Closet (1970)*** signed by Doc

At his core, Doc is a really skilled trumpet player with serious jazz bona fides. He had some terrific players in the Tonight Show band over the years, including top jazz artists like Clark Terry, Herb Ellis, Shelly Manne, Louis Bellson, and Snooky Young. Although Johnny Carson was a huge jazz fan and tried to showcase the band, Doc's talents were often obscured by his crazy outfits. It is hard to take someone seriously when they're dressed like a clown. Ask Bjork.

Shortly after Johnny retired, I saw Doc perform with Dr. Billy Taylor and his trio at the Theater Lab in the Kennedy Center in Wasington, DC. The Theater Lab is a very small space with seats for 100-150. Dr. Taylor served as MC and accompanist, and there was no one more erudite or thoughtful an ambassador to jazz. Billy was the house pianist at Birdland in NYC in the 1950s, and played with jazz luminaries like Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Billie Holiday, Dizzy Gillespie, et al. An adept and virtuoso pianist, Billy was also a wonderful storyteller.

Unplugged with the Billy Taylor Trio, Doc was revelatory, as he had serious jazz chops. Doc's discography provided little hint of his depth of talent and craft. Usually drenched in saccharine strings and playing the hits of the day, Doc's records seemed little more than elevator or lounge music. Does anyone really need to hear Doc play King Crimson or the Beach Boys?

Trumpets, Crumpets, & Things (1973) signed by Doc — ***Trumpets, Crumpets, & Things (1973)*** signed by Doc

After the show, I went backstage to talk with Doc and get some albums signed. He was particularly interested in the Milt Jackson's "Big Bags Orchestra", recorded in 1962. Doc had recently joined the Tonight Show band, and this was a chance to play with some jazz greats and peers like Milt Jackson, Jimmy Heath, Hank Jones and his great friend Clark Terry. He told me that Clark got him the gig.

I told Doc that I loved his beautiful suit - black leather with patches of leopard print tastefully appointed on the collar, sleeves, jacket pockets and piping on his slacks. It seemed rather western in motif. "‘Is it a Nudie?’ I asked (after the famed Elvis jumpsuit and Gram Parsons' weed jacket designer). "Nudie? This is Versace", Doc sniffed derisively. Yes, of course, nothing screams haute couture like leopard print and black leather!