Doc Severinsen subs for ailing Marvin Hamlisch for Nashville Symphony gig

Trumpeter Doc Severinsen will pinch-hit for an ailing Marvin Hamlisch during this weekend Nashville Symphony's Bank of America Pops Series at Schermerhorn Symphony Hall.

Marvin Hamlisch has been forced to cancel his appearance in the Nashville Symphony's Bank of America Pops Series this weekend due to illness. Taking his place will be trumpeter Doc Severinsen, who will perform Thursday February 2, at 7 p.m. and Friday-Saturday, February 3-4, at 8 p.m. The legendary Tonight Show maestro so thoroughly enjoyed performing with the Nashville Symphony in 2009 that he quickly cleared his schedule to appear at Schermerhorn Symphony Center this weekend.

Best known for his long-running stint on The Tonight Show, Severinsen got his start performing professionally in high school, when he toured with the Ted Fio Rito Orchestra. In the 1940s, after serving in World War II, he performed in the bands of Charlie Barnett, Tommy Dorsey and Benny Goodman. He arrived in New York City in 1949 to become a staff musician for NBC, where he was asked to join the Tonight Show Band in 1962. Five years later, he took over as Music Director and stayed with the show until Johnny Carson retired from late night television in 1992

In the years since, Severinsen has not lost his flair for outrageous fashions and witty banter, and he's still highly regarded as one of the most technically proficient trumpeters working today. Together with guitarist Gil Gutierrez and the virtuoso musicians of The San Miguel Five, Severinsen will perform Latin music with a jazz flair. Expect gorgeous ballads, some great movie music, gypsy jazz à la Django Reinhardt and, of course, Doc's soaring trumpet. 

Resident Conductor Albert-George Schram will lead the first half of the evening, which will feature banjoist and vocalist Alison Brown performing classic Americana selections.