Background
Newsom, Tommy was born on February 25, 1929 in Portsmouth, Virginia, United States.
conductor bandleader jazz musician
Newsom, Tommy was born on February 25, 1929 in Portsmouth, Virginia, United States.
Attended, College William and Mary. Master of Arts in Music Education, Columbia University. Graduate, Peabody Conservatory of Music, Baltimore.
Newsom was frequently the band"s substitute director, whenever Doc Severinsen was away from the show or filling in for announcer Editor McMahon. Nicknamed "Mr. Excitement" as a sarcastic take on his low-keyed, often dour 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.
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 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.
He also recorded several albums as a bandleader. On April 28, 2007, Newsom died of bladder and liver cancer at his home in Portsmouth. He was 78 years old.
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!"
Newsom, normally known for wearing bland suits, in contrast to Severinsen"s colorful attire, once appeared in a sport coat similar to Carson"s own coat for an evening"s show. Carson, noticing the similarity, asked him where he got the coat.
Newsom responded simply, "lieutenant was in my closet at home, John," breaking up Carson and the audience. One night, Newsom wore on the show a very bold (for him) yellow suit.
Carson commented, "Look at that big, dumb canary." Newsom"s response: "You’ll know what kind of bird I am when I fly over you.".
Quotations:
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!"
Newsom, normally known for wearing bland suits, in contrast to Severinsen"s colorful attire, once appeared in a sport coat similar to Carson"s own coat for an evening"s show.
Carson, noticing the similarity, asked him where he got the coat.
Newsom responded simply, "lieutenant was in my closet at home, John," breaking up Carson and the audience.
One night, Newsom wore on the show a very bold (for him) yellow suit. Carson commented, "Look at that big, dumb canary." Newsom"s response: "You’ll know what kind of bird I am when I fly over you.".
Served with United States Air Force.
Married Pat Newsom; children: Mark, Candy.