Johnny Carson Plays Drums

Johnny Carson as a guest on the Jack Benny Show on Oct. 22, 1963. Johnny had started on The Tonight Show just a year earlier. This clip is just the short drum performance.

[@andymassingham]

Johnny had a set in his living room he played every day. A gift from Rich.

[@unclebillmusic]

@Jay Porter NO

[@stanbarrington9698]

My dogs bark when I play,if I just grab my sticks I get growls.I play great,butthey dont like it

[@paulquick8806]

@@unclebillmusic just say your piece bro😎🍻

[@BenDowdy]

@@unclebillmusic NO?!!

[@SonnyGTA]

Wow!!!!!! Really?

[@loucontino4804]

Johnny Carson, loved the drums. He had drums in his home set-up with his stereo system and used to swing to all the Big Band stuff he grew up with. He loved Ed Shaughnessy, Louie Bellson, Colin Bailey and of course his close friend Buddy Rich, among others. I truly believe his sense of rhythm was one of the greatest assets for him in his timing as a comedian. I miss Johnny immensely.

[@carlcushmanhybels8159]

And a few minutes ago i learned and experienced -on You Tube-- Fred Astaire did the same. --Loved big band jazz drumming; had a drum set in his bedroom with a hi-fi next to it. To play along. And Fred's excellent too.

[@Rob_Kates]

Buddy Rich actually gave Johnny a drum kit as a gift. I always liked to see Buddy on Johnny's show. They had mutual admiration for one another.

[@percboy555]

All Buddy Rich inspired (attempted) "beats" , ""Hawaiian War Chant", then Buddys snare rim left handed roll , Buddy and Johnny were very close friends.

[@OlesonMD]

@@percboy555 One of the saddest days in Carson's life was when he learned of Buddy's passing.

[@charlesdavis5542]

As a teenager in the '60's,my first intro to some of the greats-"live"-was from The Tonght Show. Buddy and Shaughnessy,of course. Tony Bennett, Wes Montgomery,Clark Terry,Sammy Davis to name a few. I'm sure there were many more. Oh,yeah-the Buddy Rich-Gene Krupa matchup too...

[@BossaNossa1]

Now I know why he always tapped those pencils on his desk during his show's!...:)

[@scottphillips7108]

Yup... It's a inherent trait of some drummers... [Their fingers too...]

[@canadianroot]

Shows

[@organicmilk5]

Yep did it when I was little in school. I would get in trouble for tapping pencils lol

[@stratcat4450]

@@organicmilk5 I spent a lot of time with my desk pushed into the corner cause I would never stop beating on my desk.

[@CMZIEBARTH]

@@canadianroot Now I don't have to say it.

[@zebra3stripes]

So good that he called himself over to sit on the sofa.

[@williamgregory1848]

Fun fact: Buddy Rich and Johnny Carson were lifelong friends, and Rich gave Carson a drum set as a gift.

[@stevescontriano860]

Buddy rich show Johnny Carson how to play drums

[@knightflyte]

He's not too bad with a pair of pencils either.

[@MikeBlitzMag]

Jack Benny and Johnny Carson. Talk about a summit meeting! Two of the absolute masters.

[@gefloigle]

Carson was such an underrated talent. Drums, guitar, singing, magic, comedy…he was one of kind!

[@jcjohnsong8570]

...You forgot ventriloquism...

[@mizzury54]

STOP WITH THE "UNDERRATED" CRAP !

[@jamesdarling5559]

The dude had a nightly TV show for 30 years. What's this "underrated" nonsense?

[@jazzbutterworth]

@@jamesdarling5559 You have to remember in today's world, this depressing generation doesn't remember any of that. We need to keep Carson, Rickles, Brooks and all the rest alive lest they be forgotten. What we have today is mediocre compared to the greats of yester year. Fallon is alright. Not great. NOBODY could hold a candle to Carson in terms of how he interacted with his guests and how he GOT them. He really understood their humor and never interrupted them (unless of course it was commercial time). I was watching Rickles appear on Letterman during Letterman's final years as host and he just did not understand Rickles at all. It was PAINFUL to watch! The chemistry Rickles and Carson shared was unmatched.

[@ES-hr6vg]

I met Jack Benny when I was about 3 or 4 at my Aunt’s house. She used to live near him on Charing Cross in Holmby Hills. Her other neighbor, directly behind her, was the Playboy Mansion. Too bad she moved when I got older.

[@BarryH1701]

Carson was not just the King of late night television, he was generally the King of entertainment in general. This man could do about anything. There will never be another man like him. We miss you, Johnny!

[@annmartinez550]

Damn, I didn’t know Johnny could play drums like that.... Damn he’s good🤙🤙🤙🤙👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@drywizardinc]

Was

[@DennisJohnsonDrummer]

Here's Johnny!

[@blitzmagazine5649]

Johnny Carson was the whole package. Pure class. None better. Ever.

[@robpelick7460]

Back in the day when late night TV was worth watching

[@AYYYEEEEYOOO]

It still is find what you like

[@masterblaster3914]

Ain't that the truth!! Sick of watching Kimmel and Colbert cry and complain.

[@Ponkdonker]

Lol... ok, boomer. "I hate everything new!"

[@sallygomez8799]

Amen!

[@apooyosucks]

ok zoomer. "I hate everything old!"

[@John-rw2zf]

I never knew Carson could play the drums. He is actually pretty good and he isn't faking it. It is obvious that he has had some formal training. This was a classic and rare video. Thank you.

[@MrJett1971]

You don’t have to have “formal training” to practice and become a quality musician on the instrument of your choice. I had xylophone, recorder, voice, piano, and brass instrument training from the age of about 4, but as an adult, I bought a used drum set at the age of 35, and just started playing. Got so within a couple of months, I sold the used set and bought a brand new quality set, and went from there. I got pretty good, to the point where my group at the time was asked to open for one of the Stray Cats when he came through town on tour.

[@John-rw2zf]

@@MrJett1971 Sounds like you are a fairly accomplished musician. I am sure the instruction you received in your youth helped you to some degree. You are correct that it is possible to be self taught, especially these days with online music instruction. However, back in the old days modern technology was nonexistent and most people learned from person to person contact or maybe on their own from a book. It is always a good idea to observe other drummers and pick up on their techniques. I know I would have had a very hard time figuring out some of the complicated rudiments and time signatures and hand and foot independence on my own. In all honesty, I am not all that good but I get the sticks out and have fun anyway. Hope you have many more years of fun playing drums. Take care.

[@CycloneJack]

@Jett Crash Has formal training on four instruments from the age of four, opens for Stray Cats member. Says formal training is unnecessary. lolol

[@John-rw2zf]

@@CycloneJack Thanks for the info. Fun to watch him play the drums. I never got to see him do that on his TV show.

[@ericspencer4599]

He used to have Buddy Rich on the Tonight Show all the time. But this is the first ive ever seen of his playin

[@oneanddone7992]

I watched Johnny every night for decades. One night, they can back from a commercial, and the band of course is playing the last of what they were playing for the audience, and Johnny was playing the drums. It was fantastic. And he's a good drummer.

[@SanLouisKid]

I remember seeing a very short clip of Johnny being interviewed on 60 Minutes while playing the drum set Buddy Rich gave him. In the segment, he's playing along to a song from one of Buddy's albums.

[@hannesjepannesje]

where!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@karlmark9029]

+SanLouisKid Better than Gene fukin' Coopah!

[@jerrygarcia1904]

ya right

[@lenzotrumpet]

Karl Mark it's Gene Krupa

[@jamesgretsch4894]

SanLouisKid that was from 60 minutes. It’s on KZbin.

[@HystEric_Demory]

I never knew Johnny boy played the drums. As a musician, seeing him @0:49 hit the left stick with the right stick for the snare drum blew my mind.

[@wmrustycox]

Johnny was a phenomenal drummer...I remember he always truly happy when Buddy Rich would appear on his show as well

[@rogerbahakel8130]

no he wasn't great

[@PiotrBarcz]

@@rogerbahakel8130 he could do a better single stroke roll with his left hand than you could with two I gather

[@vistalite-ph4zw]

I've been playing 30+ years and had no idea that Johnny Carson played drums.

[@grandcrappy]

Ha me either. I bet Buddy Rich was a guest more than once, Johnny hell good!

[@jamesgullo8240]

So did Jerry Lewis, Sammy Davis Junior, and Fred Astaire.

[@drywizardinc]

Ditto

[@lh1678]

Matched grip with the stick..and stick slide...As a drummer that grew up watching Johnny..I'm lost for words watching this..I never knew that he was a drummer.

[@rolanddoten936]

I live in the town where Johnny grew up. He has given a lot to the community.

[@suzigti92]

Norfolk?

[@MikeyRB77]

Is there anything Johnny couldn't do?! What a legend.

[@jdsmith-bl2yl]

Maybe stay married!!!! JK,, he was awesome!

[@8avexp]

Ludwig drums and traditional grip. That's how I learned (traditional grip, that is).

[@BenDowdy]

Me too. Only cheap Yamaha kit in high school.

[@8avexp]

@@BenDowdy My drum set was a Kent.

[@mackey-5438]

My drum set when I was a teenager many years ago was Slingerland Blue Pearl.

[@8avexp]

@@mackey-5438 My Kent has a blue sparkle finish. I actually still have it, but now it's down in the crawl space.

[@SXI96]

My first kit was a gray Rogers kit with an aluminum Ludwig snare, zildjian hats, crash, and a ride, my Dad picked it up at a thrift store not knowing what he was buying, I had no idea either, a great first kit

[@moboutmen]

The master and the student of the pause and look.

[@bapples]

Mel Brooks & Peter Sellers also started out as drummers #truestory

[@gabrielszarose5640]

One of Johnny's best friends was probably his biggest influence musically, who would drop by the Johnny Carson Show on a regular basis, the late great Buddy Rich.

[@johnbidochka]

Did not know Carson could do that!

[@cwags9810]

I think I had seen him play on the tonight show..cant seem to locate, maybe some other place...comic actor Charlie callas...also quite adept on the skins back then...great stuff . TJA

[@jamesedwards2237]

@Pete Melon He had a decent set of pipes too. He got to sing with the Rat Pack.

[@daniellurman9093]

I remember seeing radar from mash playing drums, he was bloody good also!

[@martywhite2988]

@@daniellurman9093 He's especially good for having fingers that never grew on his left hand. The producers of show always had him carrying something to hide his hand. That's why he had the clipboard a lot.

[@daniellurman9093]

@@martywhite2988 I assume he at least had fingers? The clip I saw he was playing trad grip with his left!

[@markpmar0356]

Yep, he loved Buddy and it shows. They were great friends.

[@ericjohnson6665]

Better than Jack's violin playing... 😉

[@tombaker6082]

Johnny loved the drums and especially Buddy Rich. He was too humble to play on his show but he could definitely hang in when he wanted to. This is fun stuff. Thanks for sharing!

[@blujay2084]

Thanks for posting. I had always heard that he played but I'd never seen him do it.

[@pjk9056]

Doc Severson said Johnny was a professional level drummer but very seldom played on the show because he felt it would be viewed as using his position to play with musicians who were above him. Such a huge star and still so insecure. On the other hand, Merv Griffin who made his early living as a pianist, played frequently on his show.

[@b.robinson2626]

I grew up watching Johnny, watching him again on antenna tv! I never knew he could play drums like that or sing! Seems like the really great ones are always multitalented!

[@Smittyschannel]

Holy crap- I have a snare drum from that model of drum set. Exact pattern, had it since 1982. Now I need to find the rest of the set

[@patton303]

That stick tapping thing was pretty effing sweet though.

[@TheGent2]

Glad this is out there. A lot of people have no idea what a good drummer he really was.

[@ericplaysbass]

Guess I never knew that Johnny could play drums. Miss him! Jack Benny always slayed me!

[@richardsalvucci3472]

Pure Krupa on the tom-tom

[@cahookie901]

+Richard Salvucci i dont think theres many things more pleasing to the ear on this earth than a krupa style floor tom boogie

[@Rob_Kates]

Right, it sounded like Sing, Sing, Sing.

[@percboy555]

@@Rob_Kates Buddy Rich inspired , ""Hawaiian War Chant"

[@epickett63]

I had no idea Johnny played drums! That's pretty cool...

[@percboy555]

All Buddy Rich inspired (attempted) "beats" , ""Hawaiian War Chant", then Buddys snare rim left handed roll , Buddy and Johnny were very close friends.

[@davejones4073]

I barely watched the Johnny Carson Show back in the day, It’s amazing to see ppl have talents in other areas, He played the drums good.

[@charlesarturo7718]

Karen Carpenter was an EXCELLENT drummer also, as well as vocalist....

[@charlesarturo7718]

@@bonnienadinenewman Your cover of "Besame Mucho" 😍 🤩

[@Paulie1232]

She also never ate....

[@carolinecorman1716]

@@bonnienadinenewman I still miss her. What a sweetheart.

[@charlesarturo7718]

@@Paulie1232 Wow, THERE'S a brilliant news flash, you must be one of them there "stabled geniuses".

[@PNW_Sportbike_Life]

never knew Carson played drums; Now he's just that much cooler!

[@d.g.n9392]

We really like to see the reruns of Johnny Carson on antenna tv. And back a year or so ago, when we knew about the upcoming election and pandemic, we ordered several box sets of Jack Benny. Also wonderful classics tv. Plenty to watch. We’re seniors and enjoying lots of the retro tv shows.

[@aronjanzen]

Phenomenal! Also shows how drumming has evolved over the years.

[@aronjanzen]

@@LibrarianValkyrie you’re obviously not a drummer

[@chewycenter7690]

Long time ago (70s or 80s), 60 Minutes did piece on Carson and showed him on drums at home. I knew he played. Didn't know he was good.

[@otrdriverchris]

Timing is everything in comedy

[@pablocruise678]

How he hit the kick without that drum sliding off the marble ...

[@simonperry8569]

At first I thought there was another drummer playing along at the start to beef it out, but I think it's just the sympathetic resonance from the snare drum.

[@cheesemouse7774]

Jack Benny and Johnny Carson. Two of the best tv men ever.

[@elixtido1448]

I just came from Fred Astaire drumming and now I also see a thumbnail of Radar behind a kit!

[@BlackPearlMusicVideos]

My ex used to be a chef on Johnny's yacht. She also cooked for Augie Busch, Jimmy Dean, and a crap load of millionaires but Johnny was her favorite client.

[@illiadmcswain3956]

And she's an ex?😲 sounds like the one that got away! 😆

[@johnnyappleseed5029]

Go Johnny Go go go.........Johnny B. Goode

[@JoeHuman]

This is like when Prince showed up at a James Brown concert. "COMING FOR THE THRONE!!"

[@christopherwagner2395]

I had no idea Johnny played. Very nice!

[@sbullar]

I saw that 60 minutes show with Johnny playing his drum set ( Buddy's gift ), i think he was playing along with the Buddy tune '' Love For Sale ". I think Johnny could really play quite well, but i don't think he ever played in public at least on his show.

[@chrisbuck1695]

Two of my all time favorites

[@bobbly7132]

Pretty damn good

[@Lotmeister]

I remember seeing this on Comedy Central the afternoon before Carson's final Tonight Show.

[@PiotrBarcz]

Would be cool to see more of him playing the drums.

[@Nicolatkd]

In this case he couldn’t be the funniest guy on stage but he could be the funniest drummer

[@relikvija]

What a pleasant surprise

[@DANTHETUBEMAN]

I wish he would have played once in a while in the tonight show.

[@StarZendonna1687]

I got just these words HOLY SHIT! That's WICKED COOL!

[@1959mstone]

If my mom let me stay up I love when Ed would have Buddy play his set w/ a ceramic cymbal that would shatter on impact. Get B33t Up Da B33t Lab Dennis Stone drumming

[@daviddefigueiredo6018]

Wow, didn't know he played the drums. Now I do! He's good!!

[@326vince]

Kiddie city drum set. I had a cymbal with rivets back in the day

[@nowitsabadtime]

Ok, I'm watching a video of Johnny Carson playing drums, while hearing Chuck Berry on a separate radio sing 'Johnny B Goode' and earlier......watched a video of Johnny playing drums for Chuck Berry! It all comes full-circle now ;)

[@nealsausen4651]

Johnny Carson played drums for Chuck Berry?!

[@andrewyoung2796]

Johnny can do it ALL......

[@TheInvincibleViolet]

LOVE IT !!!!!! xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[@thejudgefrom69]

Oh wow I have that set!

[@tonyvincent9753]

So many of Johnny’s mannerisms were subconsciously borrowed from Jack. When he looks up and asks, “alligator skins”?.... you’d swear it was Jack speaking. Johnny really loved Jack. His wife, Joanne, recalled that he was inconsolable when Jack passed away.

[@brianchisnell1548]

Carson was not overrated. In the old days an entertainer had a lot of skills or starved! Carson was a fine drummer. This is a cool clip!

[@goodmaro]

He could do sleight of hand, sing...probably a few other entertainment skills I've forgotten he had.

[@peterwinslow8329]

I had no idea Johnny was a drummer! Pretty good too!

[@crlaw75]

Wow! A Ludwig(?) duco set with center lugs.

[@mellilore]

Yes, Ludwig Club Date, actually their economic line.

[@crlaw75]

Would like to try a set with centre lugs. Probably better sounding.

[@mellilore]

crlaw75 Same shells, less holes drilled, less gear hanging on, it's all there to let us think you're right. But, I own several '60 Ludwig Classic kits and play them on regular basis, a friend of mine own a duco (blue-silver-blue) '60 clubdate kit, I could give it a try and can say there's very little if no difference. Maybe the clubdates are a little bit more sensitive to the touch due to the less gear and holes, but the classic shells do have a more complete and rounded tone, due to the gear... it's pretty the same with acrolite and supra, the lighter is crisp and sensitive, the heavier delivers a more complete sound. Again, the difference is almost un-noticeable. Apologize for my English

[@nicklaterza5595]

I learned HOW TO play ON SAME set of my Grandfathers 40’s LUDWIG 3 pc Jazz set (and we still have it)

[@johncalaway4446]

I believe that it was Buddy Rich that taught Carson to play the drums.

[@b3j8]

Johnny was also a decent guitar player as well. The guy was really very talented but yet was also pretty humble as well.

[@JimboJazz]

He learned one song on the guitar-I forget which jazz guitarist taught him it.

[@dannyho6786]

go johnny go !! had no idea he played drums !

[@scottstevens2752]

That blew Peter Chriss away LOL!

[@scooter5940]

I know he was a mean drunk, and not the best person in the world, but he was magic on that stage. I miss him. I miss that era. I miss his guests.

[@retrovicecity9017]

I'm so impressed, especially @:55. WOW!!!

[@sleeve8651]

" I DID NOT KNOW THAT " ! 😊👍 R.I.P. Mr. Carson, 🥁and You too, JACK !🎻 🎬 🎭 📽️

[@nicklaterza5595]

ALWAY had a kind of suspicion HE MIGHT be 1 of US DRUMMERS

[@curiousnomad]

He’s killing it!

[@musicmotorskate7540]

i had no idea he was a musician. It's true you learn something everyday.

[@wilrobles9824]

Very nice.

[@jasonstearns2610]

He was featured in Modern Drummer magazine once in the 90s

[@Rob_Kates]

Yes, he was on the cover with Tonight Show drummer Ed Shaughnessy.

[@eduardomercado7817]

Carson the best..versatility and super talent

[@illiadmcswain3956]

I watched Carson as a kid with my parents...saw this episode.

[@anthonymorales842]

big respect

[@jaimemendoza5163]

Wow never knew this!

[@GuitarUniverse2013]

Speaking of relatively unknown talents of famous people, I am reminded that Jack Lemmon played very professional jazz piano, and in his late teens and early 20s was trying to figure out whether he wanted to commit to music or acting. Of course we know what his decision was, but he’s really very very well respected as a musician...There’s even a couple of movies where he just as a cameo as the pianist at a cocktail party out in the Hollywood scene of the 1960s

[@jeanesingsjazz]

Lemmon cut three albums too.

[@peterbozzo1451]

Go johnny go... and take jack with you!!

[@homerwashington8118]

i recall hearing that johnny and buddy rich were friends, and that buddy gave johnny a drum set, as well as some lessons

[@greenwich1754]

Was that not just wild? "You are correct, sir".

[@nealsausen4651]

bit I’d like to see the rest of that bit You know Johnny could really play drums a little bit klutzy a little stiff but still he got out some nice stuff especially that stick on stick thing I’d have to work on that one!

[@BPond7]

Crushed it!

[@dan0711123]

Now I know why Johny respected Buddy Rich so much

[@garethleitner9547]

Back when late night comedy was worth watching.