Doc Severinsen: "I've Gotta Be Me" - Tonight Show Band, June 13, 1969

[@MDavidG1]

Fantastic. As of July 2024, Doc is retired but alive and well at age 97. Still sharp as a tack!

[@waynebritton1436]

The first time I heard Doc play was in the early 70’s at the University of Richmond. He was the first person I had seen play with a silver trumpet. I thought I need a silver trumpet to sound like that. Well I eventually got a silver Bach, grew a mustache, got a big gold ring on my valve hand, a diamond horseshoe ring on the other and I practice like hell and here 50 years later I’m still trying to sound like that. I guess I’m gonna have to meet the devil at the crossroads if I’m gonna sound like Doc “ trumpet Jesus” Severinsen.

[@dept2]

I heard Doc warming up (for 2 hours!!!) once. It was incredible.

[@waynebritton1436]

@@dept2 I once arrived early at Doc’s concert and he was onstage practicing Capriccio de Niccolo. I’d heard him play it on recordings hundreds of times. I was shocked because he seemed to be struggling with a passage. However when he got to this portion during the performance he nailed it, Doc gets visibly nervous during some concerts but his accuracy during performances is unmatched.

[@pongespob]

I think Doc was playing with a different set of tools than everybody else.

[@tomschlueter7034]

Speaking of silver trumpets and Doc, the first time I saw him was the little photo on the front of his "Command Performances" album, which my parents bought for me, 1968. I was somewhat distraught and confused to see him holding a silver trumpet, because my only knowledge of silver horns was that those were the "cheap" school-owned horns that some kids played at school. (Mostly old Conns with the "sand-blasted" finish.) So, I thought how could a great professional be playing one of those??! Needless to say, after hearing the first cut, "When the Saints Go Marching In", it set me pretty straight!! But, I still had to figure some things out for myself in my little mind, since the only other trumpet players I had paid attention to up till then were Herb Alpert and Al Hirt, who played "gold" horns. But it wasn't long before I thought Doc was the greatest trumpet player, which I still think to this day.

[@albiondi4078]

My dear friend Sonny Russo in the bone section sounding great! Al Klink is amazing completely changed his style from his days with Glenn Miller. Doc is superb! A band of all super stars! the best in the business!

[@jad1175]

Such memories for me at that time. This show was on my 16th birthday and I was studying trumpet with Seymour Rosenfeld of the Philadelphia Orchestra and watching Doc every night. Thanks again Dave

[@erichanson3961]

Fabulous...Bravo! Love the long high G one handed at the end, while Doc also directed.

[@miketemple7]

This is the perfect showcase for Doc, this is a perfect example of just how Great a trumpet player he is!!!

[@jad1175]

These were the NY trumpet players who were at one time or another in the trumpet section. Bernie Glow, Bob McCoy, Carl Poole, Clark Terry, Dick Perry, Jimmy Maxwell, Joe Ferranti, John Frosk, Mel Davis, Snooky Young and Yank Lawson

[@dwerden]

Not surprisingly, those are the same names I see in the section on recordings (where Doc was also playing), not just from Command, but from the old Time records and other labels. I guess those were the guys you would call if you wanted things to work well!

[@dept2]

I saw Clark AND Dick Perry AND Johnny Frosk on the video. And Al Klink on Tenor!

[@STATter911]

@@dept2 Also saw Arnie Lawrence & Don Ashworth in the sax section.

[@jasonbeard4713]

Rare as heck. Great performance. Thank you!!

[@mysticakhenaton1701]

the FIRST time I have ever seen Doc dressed this normal. 🤣😂🤣

[@mysticakhenaton1701]

the band killed it, especially towards the END.

[@miketemple7]

Thank you so much for this Dave, Doc at his best with his driving melody!!!

[@kdm71291]

Rare gem....thank you!

[@miketemple7]

Doc recorded this around the same time on one of his albums, but I like this arrangement so much more!!

[@garylsmalley]

Thanks for posting. I've never seen this clip

[@johnsherman6718]

Powerful, precise! Wow!

[@da11king]

This guy named Doc is built like a tank. Damn 🎺

[@micheldalcourt2345]

Clark Terry in the trumpet section ❤️

[@barrybrown9104]

I believe that was Al Klink on the tenor sax solo

[@grouchosays]

Al actually goes way back. He played tenor in the Glenn Miller band!

[@STATter911]

That is definitely Al Klink.

[@miketemple7]

This has got be a Tommy Newsome arrangement, it has that classic Tonight Show Band sound!!!

[@dept2]

Didn't sound like Tommy but might have been his chart.

[@miketemple7]

Sorry, the tune I was thinking about that he recorded was For Once In My Life!!!

[@rtmairose7945]

Dave, and that date is right? 1969 in b&w? Two years later Doc is with our band and he’s completely different.

[@manofmanyinterests]

Taped and aired in color, but then transferred to black and white film and the tape was erased.

[@dondahlberg8844]

Was that Alan Rubin playing 4th trumpet?

[@jad1175]

Sure does look like him and they way his chops looked playing. I met Alan when I was with Lew Soloff in NY. We took lessons with Roy Stevens around 1972. I don’t know if he had The Tonight Show in his bio. I saw John Frosk next to Clark

[@gordoh7634]

Hey this is a great post thank you! I see Snooky there. Is this before Tommy correct? Is that Ross on keys? And this is before Ed was playing the drums.

[@waynebritton1436]

I think that’s Clark Terry not Snooky.

[@billbryant1288]

Doc looks like he might have hurt himself on that last not. Definitely not the usual smiling and even holding his side like he pulled a muscle.

[@waynebritton1436]

I think he was doing a little play acting to appear as if it took a lot out of him. Doc could play that tune 50 times in a row without missing a note. Always known for his amazing endurance.

[@waynebritton1436]

Also if he was straining he would have needed a little extra pressure instead of a one handed last note.

[@65strad]

Getzen trumpet here?

[@jad1175]

Yes I see Amado water keys and the third slide plastic stopper

[@tomschlueter7034]

@@jad1175 Sorry to beg to differ, but Amado's didn't appear on Doc's horn until sometime in 1970. The segment at 2:47 gives the best angle. Besides, to my ear, Doc's sound changed a bit with the Amado's--a somewhat hotter sound, while the lever waterkeys were a warmer, little fatter sound. But, whatever the era of Getzen horn Doc was playing, always sounded amazing, uniquely Doc.

[@tpledger100]

Clark Terry!

[@billbryant1288]

I recognize three or four of men in the band but not most of them. I'd love to know who they are if anybody can identify them.

[@byherr]

New York City guys in this band. The show didn't move to Burbank until 72-73.

[@dept2]

Trpts I recognize Dick Perry, Clark Terry, Johnny Frosk (lead) Trombone looks like Urbie Green but probably not him - Al Klink (from the original Glenn Miller band) on Tenor - Don Ashworth on Baritone Sax