Biography
Born Carl Hilding Severinsen on 7 July 1927 in Arlington, Oregon, USA, the trumpeter performed with several prominent swing-era ensembles in their final years, among them the Charlie Barnet, Tommy Dorsey, and Benny Goodman bands. He launched an extended studio career in New York in 1949 and took the post of assistant leader with Johnny Carson’s Tonight Show orchestra in 1962. Lyle ‘Skitch’ Henderson’s abrupt exit in 1967 placed him at the helm of that orchestra. While directing the ensemble and performing on trumpet, he routinely exchanged jokes with host Carson, a combination that established him among the most widely recognized musicians across the USA. A capable yet sometimes overly flashy trumpeter, Severinsen later turned his attention to jazz rock during his west-coast activities. Carson’s retirement in 1992 led to the replacement of Severinsen and his orchestra by the group assembled for incoming host Jay Leno.
Albums