Doc Severinsen & the San Miguel Five

Heeeeere's Johnny!" That lead-in, followed by a big band trumpet blast, was the landmark of late night television for three decades. The ‘Johnny' was Johnny Carson, the announcer was Ed McMahon and the bandleader was Doc Severinsen. Beginning in October 1962, The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson ruled the night air for thirty years. On May 22, 1992, it came to an end...

Within a week of the final telecast, Doc Severinsen and His Big Band were on the road, and to this day, audiences across America… Show more love and respect Doc and his big band, not just because he shared their living room with them for so many years, but because of Doc’s love of the Big Band repertoire. His musicianship keeps this iconic American music fresh to this day. Their repertoire includes Ellington and Basie standards, pop, jazz, ballads, big band classics and, of course, The Tonight Show theme. Severinsen can still blow hard with his horn, and hit the high notes, a result of his continued commitment to the practice studio and the refinement of his craft. But as a band leader, Doc continues to surround himself with the best in the business, and he’s only too happy to give them a turn in the spotlight.

A Grammy award winner, Doc has made more than 30 albums--from big band to jazz- fusion to classical. Two critically acclaimed Telarc CDs with the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra showcase his multifaceted talents from Bach to ballads. The Very Best of Doc Severinsen reprises fifteen of Doc's signature pieces. His other recordings include Unforgettably Doc with the Cincinnati Pops on Telarc, and the Grammy nominated Once More With Feeling on Amherst. He received a Grammy Award for "Best Jazz instrumental Performance - Big Band" for his recording of Doc Severinsen and The Tonight Show Band-Volume I.

In 2006, Doc moved to San Miguel de Allende, in Mexico, ostensibly to retire from performance. Within weeks, he was jamming with the magnificent guitarist Gil Gutierrez, later releasing the CD, El Ritmo de la Vida. Since moving back to the States, Doc tours extensively with Gil in a quintet called The San Miguel Five, performing a mix of Latin and Gypsy jazz and standards, to exceptional acclaim.

Severinsen's accomplishments began in his hometown of Arlington, Oregon, population: 600. Carl H Severinsen was born on July 7th, 1927, and was nicknamed "Little Doc" after his father, Dr. Carl Severinsen a dentist. Little Doc had originally wanted to play the trombone. But Doc Sr., a gifted amateur violinist, urged him to follow in his father’s footsteps. The Doc Jr. insisted on the trombone, which turned out to be unavailable in tiny Arlington’s music store. And so, a trumpet it would be. A week later, with the help of his father and a manual of instructions, the seven-year-old was so good that he was invited to join the high school band. At the age of twelve, Little Doc won the Music Educator's National Contest and, while still in high school, was hired to go on the road with the famous Ted Fio Rito Orchestra. However, his stay with the group was cut short by the draft. He served in the Army during World War II and following his discharge, landed a spot with the Charlie Barnett Band. When this band broke up, Severinsen toured with the Tommy Dorsey, then, the Benny Goodman bands in the late 40's.

After his days with Barnett and Dorsey, Doc arrived in New York City in 1949 to become a staff musician for NBC. After years of playing with NBC’s many studio bands, Doc was invited to play a gig in the highly respected Tonight Show Band. The band leader at the time, Skitch Henderson, asked him to join that band in 1962 in the first trumpet chair. Five years later, Doc became the Music Director for The Tonight Show and the rest is history. His loyalty to Johnny Carson and Ed McMahon never faltered, and the warm camaraderie between the three was an enormous part of the show’s success. When Johnny decided to retire from The Tonight Show, Doc and Ed said their goodbyes as well. Of course, free from the nightly grind of the TV studio, Doc Severinsen had far more time to expand his musical horizons and continues to keep an extensive touring schedule.

In addition to his Big Band and San Miguel 5 appearances, Doc continues to perform with symphony orchestras all over the country and has been Principal Pops Conductor with the Phoenix Symphony, the Milwaukee Symphony, the Minnesota Orchestra, the Colorado Symphony, the Pacific Symphony and the Buffalo Philharmonic.

Doc performs on a S.E. Shires Severinsen Destino III, a trumpet he developed with Steve Shires and the S.E. Shires Company in Massachusetts. The factory has 25 craftsmen who are professional, working brass players and totally understand what is involved in making great brass instruments. The S.E. Shires Company features a line of trumpets that includes the S.E. Shires Severinsen Destino III which was developed through Doc’s supervision until his exacting standards of quality and sound were achieved. Doc continues to make regular visits to the factory.

Today, Doc has not lost his flair for the outrageous fashion statement or his trademark wit. But his gregarious nature has never interfered with the fact that he has been one of the greatest trumpeters and musicians of the last 60 years, respected in the worlds of classical music, jazz, big band, and now even world music. In the end, Doc Severinsen has transcended his celebrity, and rejoiced in his remarkable ability to simply play his trumpet as well as he can. Which has proven to be good enough for the millions of people who count themselves his fans.

GIL GUTIERREZ, Guitar
A native of Oaxaca, guitarist and composer Gil Gutiérrez has made his home in the UNESCO World Heritage city of San Miguel de Allende, Mexico for many years. A guitar virtuoso, he has attracted a following throughout North and South America as well as Europe through his many CD’s, film scores, and concert appearances. After studying classical guitar at the Benito Juarez Autonomous University in Oaxaca with teachers Jose Benitez from Peru and Jose Saldana of Mexico, Mr. Gutiérrez’ interests spread to many musical genres, such as classical, jazz, flamenco, son cubano, and he brings a unique sensitivity and excitement to the music. Mr. Gutiérrez has toured South America and Spain with Ana Gabriel, Ricardo Arjona, Francisco Cespedes, and Pedro Guerra, and composed music for such films as “El Cochero,” Una Causa Noble,” and “El Alcazar de Chapultepec.” He has performed at the Kennedy Center and the Mexican Cultural Institute of the Mexican Embassy in Washington D.C. Last year he performed his original compositions with the New York Choral Society in Oaxaca, San Miguel de Allende and Guanjuato, Mexico. Gil Gutiérrez has collaborated on more than 60 concerts with trumpeter Doc Severinsen, appearing with symphony orchestras across the United States and recently at the International Trumpet Festival with Arturo Sandoval in Mexico City.

CHARLIE BISHARAT, Violin
While you might not recognize the name, you would instantly identify the violin artistry of Charlie Bisharat. His work has graced the albums of such pop phenoms as Alanis Morissette, The Rolling Stones, Jane's Addiction, and Aerosmith. His diversity can be heard on the works of Jazz and World Music artists Strunz & Farah, Don Grusin, and Oscar Castro-Neves. And his accomplishments have been featured in scores of soundtracks from Swordfish, Texas Rangers, Steal Big Steal Little to on-screen performances of Austin Powers Gold Member, The Drew Carey Show and Friends. A Grammy Award-winning performer, Mr. Bisharat has toured the world time and again with Jazz and New Age groups as varied as Shadowfax, Kitaro, Yanni and John Tesh. His range of styles has led him from pop to jazz to classical, where he is often heard subbing with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra and the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra. A published author, Charlie has written and recorded the jazz improvisational book and CD, Beyond Classical Violin for Cherry Lane Music. Mr. Bisharat’s compositions have been featured in movies and television as well as a myriad of recording projects. Live appearances this year alone have included Costa Rica, Spain, Abu Dhabi, Jordan, Switzerland & Brazil. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Mr. Bisharat is in demand as one of Southern California's busiest violinists. Television and feature film scores make up a generous portion of his recording schedule in town. In addition, he has appeared as a guest speaker at the Henry Mancini Institute and often lends a hand with the Yamaha Music Education programs both in the U.S. and abroad.

JIMMY BRANLY, Percussion
Jimmy Branly was born in Havana, Cuba and grew up in a rich musical environment of Cuban flavors. He began his studies at the Conservatory of Music in Havana with Adolfo Guzman and ENA (National School of Art). Jimmy’s professional career began at the young age of 15 when he met Hernan Lopez-Nussa from the Afro-Cuban jazz septet “Afrocuba” who could hear that Jimmy was someone he wanted to play with. Jimmy started playing with the original band “Cuarto Espacio” that combined the styles of fusion, rock, and Cuban music. Jimmy actually didn’t start playing Cuban music in Cuba until 1996 with Issac Delgado. Jimmy continued to evolve in his approach to playing the drums when he worked with Gonzalo Rubalcaba who taught him to play with the more sensitive range of the instrument. Jimmy decided to move to California after being exposed to the rich range of social and musical opportunities that the United States has to offer. Jimmy Branly has enjoyed a dual career as performer and sound engineer.

KEVIN THOMAS, Bass
After working and studying his way through Colorado and Las Vegas, Kevin Thomas is establishing himself among the creative forces of the renaissance of jazz in Brooklyn. Comfortable in a wide variety of musical settings, his diverse performance credits range from Mickey Rooney and Don Rickles to Luciano Pavarotti and Andrea Bocelli to Stefan Karlsson and Don Menza. When he is not touring with Doc Severinsen and the San Miguel 5, Kevin’s performance and compositional efforts can be heard as both a leader and sideman in local clubs as well as on recent recordings by Chris Parrello, Nancy Danino, and Rachel Eckroth.

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