Representative Albums: "Tommy Newsom and His TV Jazz Stars," "The Feeling of Jazz," "Tommy Newsom and His Octo-Pussycats"
Biography
Tommy Newsom is best known for his playing in the Tonight Show Band of the 1960s, '70s, and '80s, where he occasionally was the butt of jokes as Doc Severinsen's dim-witted sidekick. Newsom was always good-humored about it all, but this particular "gig" covered up the fact that he was actually a pretty talented tenor saxophone soloist. Besides playing with the Airmen of Note during his four years in the Air Force, Newsom studied at the Peabody Conservatory and Columbia University Teachers College, where he earned a master's degree. He spent the 1950s mostly as a studio musician although his playing on a Charlie ByrdSavoy date from the late '50s revealed that he was a strong stylist out of the Zoot Sims school. Newsom was on Benny Goodman's tour of Latin America (1961) and the Soviet Union (1962), and he recorded with Ruby Braff in 1961. In 1963 he joined the Tonight Show Band, where he stayed for nearly 30 years, until Johnny Carson's retirement. Newsom on an occasional basis freelanced and appeared at classic jazz festivals, and in the years after leaving the Carson show, he continued to record. Newsom led an obscure session for Direct Disc Labs in 1978 with the Tonight Show Orchestra and in 1990 cut a Laserlight CD with his "TV Jazz Stars." In 2007 Newsom died of cancer at his home in Portsmouth, VA, at age 78. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide
Thomas Penn "Tommy" Newsom (February 25, 1929 – April 28, 2007) was a saxophone player in the NBC Orchestra on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, for which he later became assistant director. Newsom was frequently the band's substitute director, whenever Doc Severinsen was away from the show or filling in for announcer Ed McMahon. Nicknamed "Mr. Excitement" as a sarcastic take on his low-keyed, often dull persona, Newsom was often a foil for Carson's humor. His brown or blue suits were a marked contrast to Severinsen's flashy stage clothing.[1]
Newsom joined the band in 1962, and left it when Carson retired in 1992.
Newsom won two Emmy Awards as a musical director, in 1982 with Night of 100 Stars and in 1986 for the 40th Annual Tony Awards. He also recorded several albums as a bandleader.[2]
On April 28, 2007, Newsom died of bladder and livercancer at his home in Portsmouth. He was 78 years old. Newsom had been married to his wife Patricia for 50 years; they had one daughter, Candy.
Newsom and Carson used audiences' low expectations for Tommy to good advantage:
One night Carson turned to Newsom during his monologue and asked why he always had his hands clasped together behind his back. Newsom replied "Vapor lock!", bringing down the house with laughter. Carson quipped, "I'm out here busting my buns to get a laugh, with one joke after another, and you just say 'vapor lock' and crack us all up!"[citation needed]
Newsom, normally known for wearing bland suits, in contrast to Severinsen's colorful attire, once appeared in a loud sport coat. Carson, impressed by Newsom's bold change of appearance, asked him where he got the coat. Newsom responded simply, "I found it in my closet, Johnny," breaking up Carson and the audience.
Discography
Tommy Newsom & His TV Jazz Stars (1990)
I Remember You, Johnny (1996, a tribute to Johnny Mercer)
