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Never too Late for Doc Severinsen on AMERICAN MASTERS, Friday, April 2 at 9 pm


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American Masters Turns up the Volume on the Life and Legacy of a Jazz Music Legend with

Never Too Late: The Doc Severinsen Story, Premiering April 2 at 9:00 pm on PBS   

 

Features new conversations with Doc Severinsen as well as original interviews with Questlove, Chris Botti, Arturo Sandoval, Bob Saget and Martin Mull

 

Doc Severinsen performs in his nineties at New York City's The Cutting Room in 2018.
Doc Severinsen performs in his nineties at New York City’s The Cutting Room in 2018.

After more than 30 years as the colorful bandleader of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, master trumpeter Doc Severinsen continues to defy nature well into his 90s with a grueling schedule of touring, performing and teaching. An engaging new documentary, American Masters – Never Too Late: The Doc Severinsen Story, traces the life and groundbreaking career of the unstoppable musical icon, revealing his personal trials and underscoring a remarkable journey of inspiration and obsession. American Masters – Never Too Late: The Doc Severinsen Story premieres nationwide Friday, April 2 at 9 p.m. on PBS, pbs.org/americanmasters and the PBS Video app.

Young Carl "Doc" Severinsen and his beloved trumpet (B&W).
Young Carl “Doc” Severinsen and his beloved trumpet (B&W).

The film features original interviews with friends, colleagues and famous fans inspired by the music icon, including Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon bandleader Questlove, master trumpeters Chris Botti and Arturo Sandoval and comedians Bob Saget and Martin Mull, as well as intimate conversations with the irreverent, irrepressible Severinsen and his family members. Archival and vibrant new concert footage along with hilarious clips from The Tonight Show showcase Severinsen’s unparalleled musical virtuosity and comedic flair.

The son of a dentist, Carl H “Little Doc” Severinsen was born in 1927 in rural Oregon and quickly became obsessed with the trumpet, wining the Music Educator’s National Contest at the age of 12. The film traces the musician’s childhood, early marriages and fledgling career in big band, leading to his incredible, decades-long tenure on The Tonight Show where he became beloved by millions of American viewers for his unforgettably flashy wardrobe, fearless leadership of the band and camaraderie with host Johnny Carson.

In 1992, when Carson retired from The Tonight Show, Severinsen moved to Mexico with his third wife. However, the band leader couldn’t give up performing; he even formed a new band, The San Miguel Five. The nonstop touring ultimately ended his marriage. Severinsen shares a glimpse into his new life with trumpet player Cathy Leach, someone who loves the trumpet as much as he does and understands his passion to play.