Tommy Newsom
| Tommy Newsom | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Thomas Penn Newsom |
| Born |
February 25, 1929 Portsmouth, Virginia, U.S. |
| Died | April 28, 2007 (aged 78) Portsmouth |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, arranger |
| Instruments | Saxophone, clarinet, flute |
| Years active | 1962–1992 |
| Labels | Arbors |
| Associated acts | The Tonight Show Band |
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 dour persona, he was often a foil for Johnny Carson's humor. His brown or blue suits were a marked contrast to Severinsen's flashy stage clothing.
Newsom was born in Portsmouth, Virginia. He earned degrees from the Norfolk Division of the College of William & Mary (now Old Dominion University), the Peabody Conservatory of Music, and Columbia University. He served in the Air Force where he played in the band, and later toured with the Benny Goodman Orchestra and performed with Vincent Lopez in New York. Newsom joined the Tonight Show Band in 1962, and left it when Carson retired in 1992. In addition to Carson's orchestra, Newsom performed with the orchestra for the Merv Griffin Show.
Newsom was as well known within the music industry as an arranger as much as he was as a performer. He arranged for groups as varied as the Tonight Show ensemble and the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, and musicians Skitch Henderson, Woody Herman, Kenny Rogers, Charlie Byrd, John Denver, and opera star Beverly Sills.
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