Tonight Show Band plays Sing Sing Sing

Doc Severinson and the Tonight Show Band plays a great version of the classic Sing Sing Sing. Not sure when this is from, late 80's I'm guessing, but a woman apparently wrote in to Johnny complaining that the band isn't featured enough on air. He brought her on the show and sat her right in front of the band for this song. A classy move by one the last class acts on television, and of course one of the sickest big bands ever assembled!!

[@patton303]

I was a 22 year old drummer and had just moved to Los Angeles. I knew that Mr Shaughnessy taught private lessons and I tracked him down and took lessons for about a year. He was the sweetest dude ever. He'd never tell me I did something wrong. He'd say, "I wouldn't do it that way". So I'd ask him why and he'd tell me and that's how he taught. I became a pro touring drummer and have avoided injury my whole career. He showed me how to get power and speed without a lot of force. Oh and he sent me a Christmas card every year until he passed. I'll never forget him. Peace!

[@drum30506]

Awesome!! U were blessed to be taught by someone like him!!

[@ralphonofrio1518]

I studied with Ed when the show was in NYC...We remained friends for years.I miss that guy.Great teacher and mentor.

[@patton303]

@@ralphonofrio1518 Rad! Did he send you a Christmas card too?

[@ralphonofrio1518]

We spoke often....I have many stories.@@patton303

[@bobboscarato1313]

Great memories from a great drummer!

[@gjm1953]

Doc Severinson and the NBC Orchestra was responsible for some of the finest music on television for many, many years.

[@quabledistocficklepo3597]

gim1953, This isn't an example.

[@punchline43]

@@quabledistocficklepo3597 I would beg to differ.

[@quabledistocficklepo3597]

@@punchline43 , Sean's Myth, I would probably like it more if I had never heard the original, but I have.

[@punchline43]

@@quabledistocficklepo3597 It may not be a carbon copy of Goodman's classic, but it was the closest thing I heard anyone playing in the 80s and 90s at least. But I've seen these guys up close many times so I'm probably a little biased too :D

[@richardstephens5258]

Well, they missed the boat on this one starting with the drum intro. I know of a couple of high school drummers that would show this dude the door.

[@rf396]

Amazing what we USED to be able to see on TV and for FREE too.

[@rf396]

@@StephenKershaw1 Yeah but its not near as good

[@tannertuner]

IF you lived close enough to the broadcasting station’s antenna to get a good signal it was “free” (paid for by commercials). There are a lot more channels today on “free” TV than there used to be and a big part of them play old syndicated programming. But you’ve still got to live close enough to get the signal. Because in the old days of analog you could get snowy reception. The digital signal is either in or it’s out.

[@rf396]

@@tannertuner Where I grew up you tossed up antennae and that was it. Sometimes reception was great sometimes not and UHF stations were always a bitch. But it WAS free. As for commercials we had em then weve got em now even though when they came around selling cable they claimed it would be commercial free. It never was

[@tannertuner]

@@rf396 that’s what I mean. You lived close enough to the broadcasting signal to “toss up an antenna”. My grandparents lived in the country 100 miles from the closest broadcast station. The only reason they could get a TV signal was my dad worked as a lineman for the power company and they could get the old used light poles as they replaced them. He got the company truck to my grandparents house one day and set a pole, then climbed it and installed the antenna pole to the top of it. This was probably early 1970s. They got decent reception from some channels if you had the antenna pointing in the right direction. Others were snowy. To this day I don’t think TV cable has been laid down the road they lived on (the house is gone) even though that is the only landline broadband option for that rural area that the big farmers now depend on. It’s getting there, and may be by now. I know they were laying it down the main roads out there a while back. You can still throw up an antenna, but with digital there is either a perfect signal or no signal at all. There is no snowy “in between”. And there are many more channels available on free antenna reception than there were then. But you’ve got to be close enough.

[@chickenparm]

Definitely don't make them like they used to. The old lady was a fan who wrote into Carson complaining that they don't show the band enough. She was on the set when they came back from commercial and he talked to her a few minutes before bringing her over. He was telling her that the band plays for the studio audience the whole commercial break but the folks at home don't get to see that, so he flew her to the show to enjoy the band. Johnny was the man!!

[@billholdensaunt4086]

Ty ok now it makes sense!

[@dugroz]

Blew her earring off!

[@Cream1968]

Kimmel and all the rest of the Political clowns that pose as hosts would have made fun of her…..These people had CLASS!

[@4angels1111]

Actually, that little old lady was Flip Manne, widow of the great jazz drummer Shelly Manne. She was well acquainted with all the musicians in this great band and would likely have commented to Johnny why they weren’t featured more on camera. She was always involved with and a big supporter of jazz, and lived in the Los Angeles area. I saw her at about every jazz event I went to during the ‘80’s. As the Tonight Show was shot at NBC Studios in Burbank, it was a short trip, no flight needed. Just to set the record straight...

[@retiredusvet4396]

Johnny Carson had FAR more class on a bad night than all the lame pretenders of today have in their entire careers, combined, especially far left loons Kimmel & Myers. Letterman is NO Johnny Carson, either - Don't embarrass any of them by comparing them to Carson!

[@scottym3]

The best of any late night band ever. Thanks for the memories Doc.

[@oneofspades]

We didn't what a special thing we had until its gone.

[@ernanidimassa4968]

As I sat in the Carson audience for his last show with guests (Bette Midler and Robin Williams) I looked out at Doc and the band and thought to myself that's something I will never ever see in a television studio again!... Simply the best nothing else has ever come close.

[@demef758]

You were a very lucky man indeed to have sat in the audience for that final show (before an audience). Carson's actual last show was the night after in front of a special invitations-only audience.

[@gregoryschmidt1233]

Many of those band members taught private lessons, and/or traveled the country doing jazz band master classes in high schools and universities, inspiring the next generations of jazz musicians.

[@kenwinter3821]

Music being played by kick ass musicians. Where has it all gone?!

[@andyengle]

It has all gone to crap, sadly.

[@michaelreece2966]

Doc is 97 and still going strong. Amazing musician. One of a kind!!! In my younger days any time I had to go to LA I always flew in and out of Burbank so I could go to The Tonight Show. I heard this band many times and they were the best TV band ever.

[@carnigal4831]

Doc retired recently. 😥

[@demef758]

@@carnigal4831 His last concert was September 1, 2022 at the age of 95!

[@johnwood551]

Back when the Tonight Show had style and class. Tons of entertainment for Everyone! I grew up watching Johnny Carson and crew..

[@bgdavenport]

Yeah, baby!!!!

[@josemoreno3334]

Me too. I miss Johnny. Rest In Peace.

[@ictpilot]

@@StephenKershaw1 Fallon couldn't be a pimple on Johnny's ass!

[@frankfrank7921]

@@ictpilot"...pimple on Johnny's ass!" Interesting imagery. Something you think about a lot?

[@ikkenhisatsu7170]

Ed Shaughnessy was such a force. A real jazzer. Man, I miss him, one of the last of a breed. And that whole band was spectacular.

[@rubengreenberg2253]

Ed was ecstatic when he played.

[@thomasdonlin5456]

I loved watching Ed and Buddy Rich go at it as well.

[@FRNKNSTNmusic]

Just watched a bunch of his interviews on YT. He’s hilarious and has great a lot of gems.

[@miguelrivero317]

@@thomasdonlin5456 one of the best moments in TV history

[@ralphonofrio1518]

I was fortunate to have studied with Ed in NYC...We always kept in touch through the years.He had the greatest stories OMG.

[@michaeltyler4034]

When I was in college I had the pleasure of seeing the show recorded live and in person and until that moment I had know idea just how incredible this band was. Such a joy and privilege to had witnessed them perform in person!

[@thomaszanzal7846]

Our forefathers had soul , and bad ass street cred. Classy music from the big band era.

[@demef758]

That generation that went into WWII were as badass as they come. When those "kids" like Carson and Severinsen came out of the military, they comported themselves with authority knowing they had killed Hitler and tamed Japan. Then along came my generation, the Boomers, who blew up the country.

[@funkymusic2k1]

This was the golden era of Late Night TV. And Johnny was the ring leader. 7 points if I may?.... 1. He was confident enough to have guest hosts. (not today) 2. He actually featured and enjoyed the best LA studio band in the biz. (not today) 3. He could actually conduct an interview...and think on his feet. (not today) 4. He understood pace and nobody could die in a monologue and come out smelling like roses like Johnny! (not today) 5. Johnny, Doc, Ed, Tommy, Fred de Cordova producer were the "dream team". I guess this will never be repeated. 6. And Tommy's arrangement was not a cut and paste, it was an intellegent and challenging take on the old standard. 7. The best...and KZbin will share these memories for all for years to come!

[@MarkR1957]

Agreed on all points. The new Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon is one of the worst shows on TV, and the band on that show is an absolute disgrace. Terrible in every sense of the word. Johnny's Tonight Show was a classy show. It has "devolved" into a piece of trash. Leno should have insisted on a Big Band like Doc's, but he was part of the "de-evolution" of an iconic tv show.

[@rogerlowe3486]

MarkR1957 Man , I agree 100%...

[@rogerlowe3486]

MarkR1957

[@paul29671]

funkymusic2k1 "Not today"

[@kwdrm1]

+funkymusic2k1 I agree 100%; we'll never see this live again, outside of what's on KZbin.

[@PC4USE1]

I grew up as a rock and roll kid(I'm 68 now,hardly a kid) but the Tonight Show Band helped me appreciate what had come before my time. Swing,blues and country begat rock and roll.

[@davidpetrie3793]

The greatest piece from the swing era played by the greatest big band ever assembled. Masterful!

[@nealbfinn]

When the band got a featured spot (which wasn't often enough), according to their agreement with the AFM, they had to pay the band more. NBC wanted to cut the band for years, but it was in Johnny's contract that as long as he was the host, they had the big band. When Johnny retired, the band was the first thing out the door.

[@TheRealDrJoey]

Johnny and Doc both went to Lincoln High School, in Lincoln, Nebraska.

[@philbrown1474]

To go from this Tonight Show Band to what Leno brought with him was a travesty. We used to tune in to Carson for many reasons and the band was one of the big reasons. Funny how I think we kind of took them for granted not knowing just how great they were, until they weren’t on TV any longer. Thank God for KZbin.

[@Twentythousandlps]

I remember the shock when Leno took over and the band was over, though it was inevitable, the last big band to be part of popular culture.

[@demef758]

I'm pretty sure the loyal Carson fans were as shocked as we all were when the Leno era began the following Monday night. The intro music was like hearing someone banging on metallic garbage cans. It was positively horrid. Didn't Leno eventually toss those guys and replace him with other that were just about as bad? I seldom watched the show after that. The pinhead NBC studio execs wanted a younger audience, and that "music" was part of their master plan to cater to their musical tastes.

[@shredlepzin1654]

Ed rocked, used to tune in at night just to hear him play in and out of the commercial break

[@alartandy]

Just noticed at 2:56 that Ed Shaughnessy loses his right drumstick and picks up another without missing a beat.

[@miguelzarate6864]

***** Pure talent right there!!

[@kwdrm1]

+alartandy Ed Shaughnessy was a true professional, and a class act himself.

[@doctorfate3746]

That's right lol

[@normal_media]

thats funny, his drummer at a concert I was just at before xmas last year, his drummer shatter a stick and whippone out of his back pocket same way...didnt miss a beat. thanks for catching this.

[@Autumnsraine]

wow!

[@johnlovell8299]

I got to see Doc perform live back in the 80's. It was the 2nd best concert I'd ever been to. (No.1 was Count Basie, but thats another story )

[@tamtamulevicz1215]

Shaunnesy is SO underrated, same with all doc's band, and doc too. Big band swing is hard to play. You can see ed was in the groove. They all were into the song, true pro's and loving to play.

[@ms-xm6uj]

Actually Doc was recognized as one of the best trumpeters in the world.

[@kkampy4052]

He rocked those porkchops the whole time he was on the Tonight Show.

[@bethbartlett5692]

He sorta gets left in the shadows. (It was the Buddy Rich era) But he was Awesome Great!

[@bethbartlett5692]

@@ms-xm6uj He was speaking about the Drummer.

[@nancypetrie5717]

That was probably one of the hottest big band sounds I've heard in my lifetime. Brilliant!!!!! Love the tune, love the arrangement and these musicians were on fire!!!!

[@reloadNshoot]

If you love the big band sound and sing sing sing you need to search you tube for a Japanese version. Search sing, sing, sing by Kzkz1967a on YT. It's a very good version and long but showcases some talented gentleman from another part of the world and culture. Benny would be proud!

[@stevefox3014]

I forgot how good this band was...Ed Shaunessey ripped this one!!!

[@patriciamorgan6545]

Check out Ed Shaughnessy and Buddy Rich going head to head on another clip from the Tonight Show. It's on KZbin. Man, I miss those days!! Absolutely stellar!

[@dugroz]

Absolutely!

[@insuranceman78]

Yes he did

[@4angels1111]

Jammin! 👏👏 Snooky Young took the first trumpet solo, and that hip old lady was Flip Manne, Shelley Manne’s widow. Lotsa great players in that band, I was lucky, living in L.A. during those years, to see these players often performing in clubs around town.

[@doninmichigan]

We were blessed to have grown up in that generation. Glad to have the Tonight Show and this great music to put us to bed every night for many years. 🎼

[@Rob_Kates]

Why did Johnny call her "Zoda?"

[@rty1955]

Its so nice to see talented musicians presented properly, dressed well and very talented. Today a lot of performers looked liked they got off a long bus trip

[@edb1322]

man, some of the stuff Shaunessey is playing is just phenomenal. great, great tune. I wish I was alive when Johnny Carson was on the air because he really was the best.

[@edphillips9118]

I grew up watching Johnny. Yes, he was the best.

[@doninmichigan]

I grew up watching Johnny, he put us to bed every night with a good feeling, like every thing is all right with the 🌎. Glad you can get to experience the clips here on KZbin and re live it too.

[@rnordquest]

If she wasn't hard of hearing before, she is now. That was a lot of power behind her.

[@theapparatus]

Looks like at 4:45, she's taking her ear plugs out.

[@bholaoates1542]

@@theapparatus I got the impression that one of her earrings fell off and Johnny noticed it as he approached her and he picked it up and handed it to her, and then she was trying to put it back on. 4:38

[@lakecountynaturalist7617]

It would be worth losing my hearing for a couple days!

[@JazzMaven]

Great Tommy Newsom arrangement! The trumpet section playing the Harry James solo harmonized, damn!

[@synthdude]

A nice tribute 😎

[@Olliemets]

Ed Shaugnessy sure did Gene Krupa proud !!! Gene...the man who setthe modern concept of the drum set in motion.

[@edm3524]

Benny Goodman was the band leader whose band created this song Gene Krupa basically invented the drum solo for rock bands to come

[@photomanwilliams4147]

As often said, you never really appreciate something special until its gone. Johnny, Ed, Doc the band the whole tonight show was a masterpiece to never be reconstructed again. I knew it was a good show over the years I watched it, but WOW, compared to the trash of TV talk shows of today..... what we older TV viewers of the past had, and didn't fully know it.

[@daleandrews3552]

About mid tune when the band was really cooking, I was grooving to those petal notes coming from the trombone section. What a fine band. The best of the best. I had both of their CD's, "The Tonight Show Band Vol. I" and "The Tonight Show Band Vol. II", which were two of the best LP's ever produced. I played them any time I was in a bad mood or whenever I was in a good mood, for that matter!

[@RayNDeere]

When the show was cut from 90 to 60 minutes, one of the things that was lost was the band being featured on a regular basis. Back in the older shows, they regularly had a spot in the show to feature the band

[@gregoryschmidt1233]

i played sax from an early age. My parents would let me stay up until the band feature, then it was bed time.

[@mike89128]

This was no little old lady from Pasadena. Her demeaner and stage presence says she was used to being on stage at sometime in her life. Not shy or star struck at all. Hats off to her.

[@4angels1111]

I’m not positive, but it looks like the lady might’ve been Flip Manne, Shelly Manne’s widow. I saw her often at LA area jazz events in the 80’s, and she’d certainly be one to complain about the band not being featured, with many of her talented musician friends playing in it.

[@4angels1111]

Actually, I’m pretty positive that’s Flip Manne. Check her Facebook profile picture, which I can’t post here.

[@denniskumabe734]

True. Little old lady from Pasadena was street racer.

[@figmo397]

Florence L. “Flip” Manne lived to the ripe old age of 102, passing on June 7, 2023.

[@loucontino4804]

I saw the Buddy Rich Big Band sitting about 10 feet from Buddy's bass drum, the power of a Big Band in full force is unparalleled. And when you are right up front, it's a kick in the head! The Tonight Show Band was one of The Best.

[@Rob_Kates]

This band was wonderful, the best in the business.

[@wheeleyguy]

AGREED!!

[@johnmarlin7269]

Great arrangement of an old classic! Love hearing Doc playing the Benny Goodman solo on trumpet.

[@jonshannon7096]

This is such a different arrangement. Had to listen several times to get all the inner juice.

[@gregoryschmidt1233]

Did Doc arrange it?

[@bobjohnson205]

@@gregoryschmidt1233 Tommy Newsom did. Doc even said that @0:23.

[@gregoryschmidt1233]

@@bobjohnson205 Oops, missed that in my skipping around. Thanks.

[@bobjohnson205]

@@gregoryschmidt1233 That's why I'm here! lol

[@starguy2718]

And this was the house band, on a late night talk show! Wow!

[@mikeprevost8650]

This "house band" featured many great veteran studio and big band musicians. You're making it sound like they were a bunch of guys thrown together for a house band at a local club.

[@michaelstratton6701]

Awesome, Johnny Carson was a classy host, and doc and his band were awesome

[@daveenyart]

This is outstanding. "Sing, Sing, Sing" by Benny Goodman could possibly be the most important, single, tune of the 20th Century. Big Band was waning in the mid-1930's and this tune saved Big Band due to a nation-wide Goodman tour in 1937. We would not have Rock & Roll if not for "Sing, Sing, Sing." God Bless Tommy Newsom.

[@daveenyart]

@Penumbra yep

[@Fool3SufferingFools]

I can see how that record could have blown the world’s collective socks off in 1937.

[@STho205]

Yes Prima wrote it and had a small pop single (2 minutes) with it, however it was a lyrics and 30s novelty song. This arrangement for the Goodman band (also played later that year by Chic Webb) is the most significant piece of recorded popular culture-hit music of the 20th Century. It has every piece of American music in it. It is: Symphonic orchestration It has the rock and roll dance beat It has Jewish tinpan jazz Broadway Black jazz R and B elements Dixieland and even Spanish and American Indian riffs. All of this was able to fit on a large 78 taking both sides, which accounts for the lull in the arrangement snd then the bombastic restart. It was a masterpiece for the genre and the media of the day.

[@markmed9091]

@@STho205 yeah , it was a good song too .

[@phantomsellers8952]

Louis Prima wrote it but the tour de force was inspired. Look up Fletcher Henderson and the interpolation Christopher Columbus that gave it a feeling of Swing Noir!

[@Hallrk63]

If that granny didn't have hearing problems before I bet she did after that. I couldn't imagine sitting that close to a band playing that number. Great rendition of that by the NBC Orchestra. Ed Shaughnessy was great!

[@michelleduquette800]

Hallrk63 Didn't care for it at first, but when the band started really swingin', I changed my tune...pun intended!! Louis would approve!!😚

[@pbwbrian53]

To the few losers who had anything bad to say about this performance: “Suck it!”. That was a great arrangement that preserved the spirit of the original and took it in a few new directions.

[@gantmj]

People want to hear the songs they want to hear, not "new directions".

[@pbwbrian53]

@@gantmj Then go buy the original version and play it to death.

[@gantmj]

@@pbwbrian53 Entirely beside the point.

[@pbwbrian53]

@@gantmj troll

[@gantmj]

@@pbwbrian53 "Everyone who dares disagree with me is a troll." - Narcissist

[@mrartician5250]

And THIS, boys and girls, is why I cut the CABLE TV cord about 6 years ago!

[@davidwesley2525]

I rarely watch TV anymore , I can watch the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson , favorite episodes of McHale's Navy & classic cartoons especially Betty Boop on my smartphone. 🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@sirclarkmarz]

the Stevens and Jimmy's on late night TV now are a pathetic joke , not fit to lick the boots of the janitors that cleaned up after The Tonight Show was over

[@jakespeed63]

I don’t miss it either. Actually watch Mannix at 2am on MeTv

[@WillBravoNotEvil]

2024 and Doc is 97 and has supervised a limited edition of 97 custom, bespoke mutes painted in reproductions of his sparkle sport coats. There's a short documentary of him seeing the designs on line. 97! Bless him!

[@stereo8893]

I got goose bumps and chills. This was fantastic.

[@benblue2443]

The drummer KILLED! And can we get a little respect for those simply outstanding mutton chops?

[@andrewratajczak7183]

I'm a huge big band fan of the 30's and 40's... Artie shaw, Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller (my #1 band go to) tommy Dorsey, count Basie, etc....... I wonder what kids these days would think of this music from way back when..... I wish Johnny was still here so maybe this style of music would be more popular than it is....... Bring back the swing!!

[@rikischell259]

I'm only 52 & I LOVE "Big Band" My dad had a sined copy of "jam session calgary"

[@RobTheNotary]

Count Basie wrote the theme song for the TV show M squad storing Lee Marvin Too bad we lost Glenn Miller right at the beginning of the battle of the bulge in a plane crash and since the battle of the bulge it started they couldn’t really commit a lot of resources to try and find him. George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in blue which was Al Capone’s favorite tune

[@Anothertominohio]

All hail Tommy Newsom for such a great arrangement! What a powerful group of musicians!

[@Paul-lm5gv]

If we could only bring back The Tonight Show, Johnny, Doc and the gang even for one late night!

[@josefino72]

Those boys blew the wig off granny’s dome.

[@KLChimento]

Got to see Doc and his band in Nashua NH when I was a teen - absolutely terrific!

[@gilballmes9709]

Wonderful rendition of this classic song; lot of great musical improvisation.

[@darren3565]

Two words: Simply Incredible!

[@feggyduss6463]

Simply the greatest ensemble of musicians who made the greatest contribution to Late Night Broadcast Television.

[@mrdeuce7]

Ed Shaughnessy was such a great & underrated drummer! He absolutely stole the show, Wow! I loved the way he switched from traditional grip to matched grip depending on his passion. What an awesome musician!

[@damianchallis9214]

He dropped a stick halfway through his last solo, and kept going

[@andrewfyakim525]

Oh how I am grateful that I grew up and lived, (and played!) in the 'big bands' era.. Doc and the Tonight Show band was as good as it gets!... Love you Doc! and Stan Getz (my sax hero)....

[@chifan7]

Now That's a Band!!!!! Real music!! Those guys were Awesome!!!!

[@Texas3Step]

I'm amazed at her sitting so still. I cannot hear that song without at least dancing in my chair. When I can stand up and let lose, it's no holds barred. This song was made for dance and dance was made for this song.

[@tamtamulevicz1215]

5:21, doc was so into it, he danced.

[@timothyknight2236]

What talent on display - that band is on point and smokin' large!!

[@daveblevins3322]

So excellent 👌 We really miss that band and the show 👍👍🇺🇸

[@Rob_Kates]

This should have 10 million views.

[@mhughes6303]

I saw Doc Severinson live in concert back in 1968. One of the best performances in my very young life.

[@prairiegirlist]

Loved Johnny Carson,love that he had such an awesome band on his show, I didn't appreciate the band then, but I sure do now. I'm 52, my parents were of The Greatest Generation, and they gave us the Greatest Music ever. What an awesome arrangement and awesome performance.

[@JazTrance]

Doc and his band were wonderful and so talented. I wish we could have heard at home what the studio audience heard.

[@bobbysands6923]

One of the greatest big bands ever. They were never featured enough. But I grew up idolizing them and wanted to be their drummer "someday." It never happened but that is OK. Thanks for the post.

[@jimpinney]

Just one of the reasons Johnny was on for so many years, man that's a band!!

[@michaelstratton6701]

Miss everything about the Johnny Carson tonight show

[@lakecountynaturalist7617]

How in the heck did that woman sit still?! I'd be up dancing the moment Shaughnessy ripped into those drums! ❤

[@steven4570]

greatest band of all time...they dont make em like this any more

[@gregoryschmidt1233]

They could if there was a demand for it. Tons of talented kids graduate from jazz programs every year, but fewer and fewer venues for them to earn a living.

[@nemo227]

For several years I would eat dinner and go back to my business to work until 11:00PM and then close up shop so I could be home to enjoy the Tonight Show. I don't bother with the Tonight Show for the past 20 years.

[@bh5606]

All-time great pieces of music. Amazing.....

[@maxwellspeedwell2585]

These guys are good. I used to perform with a contemporary of theirs. The knowledge of music, composing like they were taking dictation, incredible tone, and a lifetime of dedication to their craft sets them so much apart.

[@checkmatekingtwothisiswhit7685]

The best band on television ever. Period.

[@millerforester6237]

Doc came to Greensboro, NC some 8 years ago. He was gracious enough to come out after the show and sign autographs for me and all others. I don't think he could hear very well anymore, but I did get a chance to speak at him. What a fine man.

[@drumlover1687]

The greatest late night show of all time in my humble opinion! The greatest band, the greatest sidekick, and of course the greatest host ever!!

[@rockinrana3074]

I love this music! This is the kind of music that you had to master your musical instrument to be able to play it. Not like today with all these voice overs and techno tropic crap!

[@oldwest517]

I wish I could go back and live those years over again. I would definitely have Johnny on in the background every night so I could catch more moments like these.

[@riobravo1363]

“Golden Lips”......that’s for sure

[@TC-mb2pw]

This was the hard rock of its day!

[@tylermorrison7051]

These guys were amazing!

[@lakesamui]

There would have been a huge void in Carson's Tonight Show studio without Doc & his Big Band. They boosted Johnny & his guests to the top.

[@Woosterfan1954]

loved it thanks for posting, as for everyone complaining about the band and arrangement stop it. Doc never claimed to have a band to match the great Benny Goodman's but it was pretty damn good and it is nice to get a fresh sound every once in awhile. Benny would have loved it.

[@lourdesfischer242]

Are kidding me this is one of the best band that the "Tonight Show has ever had, scew Jimmy's band, They don't have anything on DOCS band! There will never be a band, Orquestra or for that matter in a late talk show, yeah maybe Paul Sh....on David Letterman.

[@a.b.s_productions]

This was dated for it's time, which is the late 1980's but this music is freaking awesome. So sound that I wasn't old enough to really see this. This was don't probably around the time I was born. Johnny Carson stepped down when I was only 3!

[@jeromes5183]

The Roots are awesome. You don't have to take away from one group to showcase how good another is. Both are spectacular.

[@Michaelbos]

It was a Great band. They could play anything.

[@JeffRL1956]

My favourite big band song of all time and they sure did it justice. Bravo.

[@wjadsley]

Some of the best musicians in the music business sat in that band, Conti Condolli formerly of the Woody Herman Thundering Herd for one. Ed O'Shaughnessy on the drums, and many more.

[@mikeprevost8650]

Conte is seated second from the left in the trumpet section. John Audino and Snooky Young are also in the section. John was a great lead player, one of the best in the business in those days. I'm not sure who the other trumpet player is. When John Audino died suddenly, Doc brought in Chuck Findley to replace him. As far as I know, Doc and Chuck are the only living members out of all of the guys who ever played in the section, and Doc is 96.

[@lilRadawg]

Tommy Newsom was an amazing arranger, not to forget a great saxophonist. What a band.. wow.

[@brigglerintune]

And funny!

[@imuawarriors]

i loved this show. best late night band ever. letterman has a good band under Paul, but this these guys are on another level...

[@turnitback5243]

For me, this is the best version I have heard of Sing Sing Sing, by a very long way. RIP Ed Shaughnessy.

[@DarbyAlexanderFarms]

I feel like I took these men for granted. They were always top-notch. We were lucky to get to hear them!

[@MrMcompagno]

That drummer is awesome looking and sounding.

[@Rob_Kates]

At 2:56 Ed drops a stick and grabs another one right away. A true pro.

[@Jellybeantiger]

That is so great,the lass having the time of her life.

[@stevenk9466]

Late to the game here... Ed Shaugnessy was an awesome drummer! I swear, no one did snare work better than he. And if you listen to a lot of the Tonight Show Band (which I have), you'll hear his snare kicks are pure artistry. Did anyone else notice that Ed changes from closed-hand to open-hand (traditional grip) on his left hand at around 5:19? I wonder why.

[@hankkingsley2976]

People who are masters of their craft know all the techniques and when to use them based on situatons. And the explanation of why usually makes the Salieres of the world baffled and angry because they didn't think of it, didn't understand it until it was explained to them, but could never implement it themselves.

[@jeffragar3493]

@@hankkingsley2976 I watched Jeff Hamilton drumming in a jazz concert. He would switch between sticks and brushes mid-song and once for a soft cymbal sound he'd lightly tap it with his ring.

[@josephforest7605]

Look closely I think he lost a stick .

[@stevenk9466]

@@josephforest7605 I watched the video again. Yes, he lost his right-hand stick earlier. But if you notice at about 3:49, he changes grip on his left hand. He did not lose that stick. However, I asked a professional drummer friend of mine about this a couple of years ago. He said that Ed liked to play snare solos using traditional grip and tom-tom solos using closed-hand. Is that the reason? I don't know. Maybe someone has found an interview with Ed where he explains it.

[@rwhdragonmaster]

My God do I miss those days !!

[@benkleschinsky]

Johnny had the best band. No one has topped them since.

[@DavidMizeMusic]

I didn't see any comments about Shaunessey losing a stick right around 2:58. Played through it flawlessly. No surprise at all.

[@Kickerinthehead]

Not that everyone's here for the music (as opposed to being Carson fans) but Doc's solo was a tribute to Harry James' from one of the oldest recordings of this song. Everybody involved in Carson's Tonight Show was a class act.