Doc Severinsen retiring

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robcat2075
Posts: 1867
Joined: Sep 03, 2018

by robcat2075 »

Tonight Show band leader Doc Severinsen has declared his retirement at... 95!

[url=https://slippedisc.com/2022/09/americas-top-trumpet-blows-his-last-at-95/][color=#000080]America’s top trumpet blows his last at 95
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harrisonreed
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by harrisonreed »

The sound is still really good. Maybe he just ran out of ideas?
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robcat2075
Posts: 1867
Joined: Sep 03, 2018

by robcat2075 »

Here is a slightly more substantial write up...

[url=https://dailygazette.com/2022/08/25/docs-last-show-severinsen-95-to-play-uph-with-san-miguel-5/][color=#0000BF]Doc’s last show: Severinsen, 95, to play at Universal Preservation Hall in Saratoga Springs with San Miguel 5
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robcat2075
Posts: 1867
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by robcat2075 »

At 95, my dad would get worn out watching the Weather Channel.

I'd say Doc is in the top 1 or 2% of functionality for 95 year olds.

Who would be some similarly extremely-aged performing brass players?
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Remington
Posts: 38
Joined: Nov 26, 2019

by Remington »

Jay Friedman comes to mind
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harrisonreed
Posts: 6479
Joined: Aug 17, 2018

by harrisonreed »

He didn't have the mannerisms or body of someone who is 95 in that video. Looked like a fit middle aged person
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baileyman
Posts: 1169
Joined: Mar 24, 2018

by baileyman »

I once noticed him in Rockport, MA, so I thanked him for his music. He said, in good Texan, "It's been my plaesure the whole time."
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robcat2075
Posts: 1867
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by robcat2075 »

This [url=https://bestlifeonline.com/oldest-living-musicians-2021-news/]click-bait list of elderly pop <I>performers</I> goes from Dolly Parton (75) to Tony Bennett (95) but the last several on that list aren't really doing much currently.

A search the classical blog "Slippedisc" for "oldest" brings up mentions of 90+ conductors and [url=https://slippedisc.com/2018/06/oldest-teacher-at-curtis-turned-104-today/]teachers (104!) but not much for high level classical instrumentalists.
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BGuttman
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by BGuttman »

Roman Totenberg, violinist with the Boston Symphony and father to Nina Totenberg of NPR, was actively teaching almost until his death at 101.
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dbwhitaker
Posts: 196
Joined: May 16, 2019

by dbwhitaker »

There is a recent documentary film about Doc Severinsen that I enjoyed watching. It includes very impressive clips of him playing at 90.

<LINK_TEXT text="https://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmaster ... ary/17495/">https://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/stream-never-too-late-doc-severinsen-story-documentary/17495/</LINK_TEXT>
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u_2bobone
Posts: 474
Joined: Mar 25, 2018

by u_2bobone »

We are all familiar with Doc's powerful style, but has anyone else heard the gorgeous playing he does with Eric Kunzel & the Cincinnati "Pops" Orchestra of a suite of Puccini melodies from 1990 entitled "Trumpet Spectacular" on the TELARC label ? The first time I heard it I was unaware of who the trumpeter was and was astonished when they announced that it was Doc ! I've never heard more lyric playing coupled with unbeatable stamina. What a guy ! He was featured in several concerts with the NSO when I was still there and was a real "mensch" despite his towering talent ! What a guy !!