There was a lot of kidding and banter between Johnny and the band. There were Doc jokes, Tommy jokes, Snooky Jokes, but when Doc and the band tee’d it up, it was no joke.
There aren't enough good musicians left in the world to put a band like this together today. Imagine having a band of this quality playing on TV every night!
James Shubert There are a lot of really good big bands playing today but no, they don't get on TV. Just to name one in LA - check out Gordon Goodwin. These musicians that Johnny and Doc had were some of the best with each man having many years of experience - all stars!
Well...there are a lot of superb musicians. However, besides that there isn't a big audience for something like this any longer musically speaking the **main** missing ingredient is there isn't another Doc.
There are plenty of great musicians. Who do you think records TV and movie soundtracks? The studio players in LA and NY are the best. The best of the best are known as first call studio players. If you need a lead trumpet player, you first call Wayne Bergeron. If he's not available, you call....
What a way to make your living... Watch and listen to the orchestra as everyone shows off. Those folks are as good as they get and everyone is having a blast. Their playing displays that again and again. And Doc hears everything. He's the consummate bandleader. He also drags his horn players right up to the same level he plays at. It's an incredible performance by the best of the best.
Absolutely. I wish I had been around during his tenure, I was only 6 when he went off the air. Doc and Tommy had a team no one could, can, or will ever beat. To go back in time and hear the theme in his audience just once would be such a thrill. And the set changes for the band were awesome, especially in the late 70's. TV and Music at its best!
@@mhenrikse I spoke with jazz trumpeter Freddie Hubbard soon after Jay Leno took over. He told me he turned down an invitation to guest with Leno's band. Brandford told him he'd have to stand through the entire show. I asked Freddie what he thought of the "new" Tonight Show Band. He said, quote, "Dem boys need some arrangements!"
@@sevadaj Bottom line: Kevin the amateur conga player played for a TV audience of 15 million people. He played with Doc and The Tonight Show Band. List your credits.
I am sorry guys, fantastic instrumentalists but the music socks, no respect for the latin music, this is the time when the fantastics instrumentalists in USA thought that to play latin music it was just to shakes maracas or whatever, it was totally disrespect to it!!!! Fortunately is not like this anymore, the younger musicians are very serious about latin music!!! But this generations before were a disasters about it!!!!!!
