Carl Hilding “Doc” Severinsen, born July 7, 1927, Arlington, Oregon, is an American jazz and pop trumpeter. He is best known for his work with the NBC Orchestra during the Johnny Carson era. Severinsen released a number jazz standards albums in the 1950s and 60s. He also performed many melodic solos. Although Severinsen was not as “screamer” like Maynard Ferguson’s, he had a very well-developed high note range with incredible control and melodic sense. Severinsen recorded in the 1960s with the Clarke/Boland Big Band as well as the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis group. Severinsen was also Gottfried Reiche’s second trumpeter, and his recording of “Abblasen”, Gottfried Reiche’s fanfare, has been used for Sunday morning on CBS News. Severinsen’s albums, which were based on pop-rock music, including “Brass Roots”, Good Medicine, and “Facets”, were released during his time with the Tonight Show. These albums were received with varying degrees by the public. While he worked with jazz musicians, his recordings as a leader primarily consisted of pop music. He has recorded several recordings in which he plays the classical trumpet repertoire. Severinsen served as the principal pops conductor of several American orchestras, both during and after his tenure at the Tonight Show. In 1983, he was the Phoenix Symphony’s first conductor. Similar positions were held with the Minnesota Orchestra, the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and the Colorado Symphony Orchestra. In 2007, Severinsen retired from active conducting and was named Pops Conductor Emeritus in Milwaukee, and Pops Conductor Licensé in Minnesota. Severinsen was also Distinguished Visiting Prof of Music and Katherine K. Herberger Heritage chair for Visiting Artists at Arizona State University School of Music from 2001-2002. User-contributed text may also be available under GNU FDL.
