Doc Severinsen's farewell to Minnesota

Doc Severinsen
Doc Severinsen plays and conducts his last concert with the Minnesota Orchestra this weekend. Here he strikes a familiar pose -- one he used as bandleader for The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.
MPR Photo/Karl Gerkhe

This weekend Doc Severinsen performs his last concerts with the Minnesota Orchestra. The trumpeter and conductor has been the principal pops conductor for 14 seasons.

Most people remember Doc Severinsen from his 30 years in front of the famed Tonight Show band. He led them from the trumpet, with witty badinage from the bandstand, and an always outrageous wardrobe.

As he resists the idea of retirement, and looks forward to his 80th birthday later this summer, MPR's Tom Crann sat down with Doc Severinsen for an exit interview.

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