"Musical Icon" Doc Severinsen blows into town this month

Long before he was a much in-demand conductor, composer, and arranger, Jeff Tyzik was just a kid who, like the rest of America, enjoyed watching The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. As a budding trumpeter, Tyzik was enthralled by the house band and its charismatic leader/trumpet player Doc Severinsen. Little did he know his musical hero would eventually become a close friend.

Doc Severinsen and Jeff Tyzik blow the high notes
at Tyzik's 20th anniversary celebration in April 2014.

“I never imagined that someday we would make a recording together that would win a Grammy,” said Tyzik, who produced The Tonight Show Band with Doc Severinsen Vol 1. in 1986.

Tyzik has honored his friendship with Severinsen throughout the years by featuring the musical legend on several RPO pops programs. Most recently, Severinsen performed at Tyzik’s 20th anniversary celebration with the orchestra in 2014. Severinsen returns to guest conduct and play trumpet at the RPO on January 22 and 23, with a program that features Gershwin and Mancini alongside Puccini and even Bach.

“Doc’s wit, talent, charm, charisma and flashy wardrobe are still as much his hallmarks as they always have been,” said RPO Principal Trumpet Douglas Prosser. “He’s got an ageless devotion to great music, especially big band standard rep, and is also one of the most devoted trumpet players around.”

Since completing his 30-year run on The Tonight Show, Severinsen has continued to be an active musician and conductor/bandleader. He also served as principal pops conductor with the symphonies of Phoenix, Milwaukee, Colorado, and Pacific, as well as the Minnesota Orchestra and Buffalo Philharmonic. In 2014 he released an album of Latin music with his group “The San Miguel Five.”

“Some of my earliest symphonic pops arrangements were written for Doc,” said Tyzik. “He’s a true American musical icon.”

If you go:
Doc Severinsen
Fri. Jan. 22 at 8 PM
Sat. Jan. 23 at 8PM
Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre
Tickets start at $22