Tommy Newsom
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.
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.
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. 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 he was 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.
Newsom died of bladder and liver cancer at his home in Portsmouth. He had been married to his wife Patricia for 50 years; they had one daughter, Candy.
Examples
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!"
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, tribute to Johnny Mercer, not Carson)
The Feeling of Jazz w/ Ken Peplowski (1999 Arbors Records)
Tommy Newsom is Afraid of Bees (2000)
Friendly Fire (2001) (Arbors Records)
As musical arranger for Maurice Hines
Maurice Hines: To Nat "King" Cole With Love (Arbors Records)
External links
International Herald-Tribune: "Tommy Newsom, 'Tonight Show' band member dubbed 'Mr. Excitement' by Johnny Carson, dies at 78," retrieved April 30 2007
Washington Post: "'Tonight Show' Band Member Tommy Newsom Dies at 78," retrieved April 30 2007
City of Norfolk biography
Interview with Newsom by his nephew, Jim Newsom
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