Another ‘Tonight’ Rarity, Two Birds…One Stone

On January 3, 2015 - TV History

Picture Parade #3…Another ‘Tonight’ Rarity, Two Birds…One Stone

It’s not often that we see the TK41s in NBC Studio 6B, but even more rare is this shot with band leader and Musical Director, Milton Delugg.

The band was formed in 1954 for the debut of ‘Tonight’ with Steve Allen by its first long-term director, Skitch Henderson. When Jack Paar, took over Jose Melis became the leader in late 1957.

Henderson returned in 1962 when Johnny Carson took over after Carson increased the band budget, which allowed Henderson to hire some of the best musicians from the touring big bands which were going out of business at the time. The new band included Clark Terry, Bobby Rosengarden, Doc Severinsen, Urbie Green, Ed Shaughnessy, and Ernie Royal, among others.

In 1966, Henderson left the show and was replaced by Milton DeLugg, who in 1967 was replaced by Doc Severinsen. Enjoy and share! -Bobby Ellerbee

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11 Comments

  1. Dave Miller January 3, 2015

    Check this out re; Milton DeLugg: Part 1: http://classicshowbiz.blogspot.com/2011/05/interview-with-milton-delugg-part-one.html and Part 2: http://classicshowbiz.blogspot.com/2011/05/interview-with-milton-delugg-part-two.html

  2. Rob Kates January 3, 2015

    I loved Doc’s band, filled with outstanding players like Tommy Newsom (woodwinds), Ross Tompkins (piano), Snooky Young (trumpet) and more.

  3. Rob Kates January 3, 2015

    Bobby Rosengarden from the band later left to be Dick Cavett’s bandleader. I love posts like this about late night TV history.

  4. Bob Knack January 3, 2015

    DeLugg is a great trivia question. Nobody remembers him with Carson. He wasn’t “show biz” enough for Johnny.

  5. Mark Heller January 3, 2015

    Delugg wrote, “Hoop Dee Do” for Perry Como, and made a small fortune when Frankie Yankovic recorded it a second time, for Columbia! it was supposed to be a ‘spoof song’. Delugg is still with us, at 95 or 96, I think.

  6. Dave Miller January 3, 2015

    And Milton DeLugg was the bandleader of the Jurassic antecedent of NBC’s Tonight Show, BROADWAY OPEN HOUSE. Go to around 9:45 in this 1950 episode (yes, from studio 6B in Rockefeller Center) for a skit with DeLugg. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKELvu0qD-4

  7. Dave Miller January 3, 2015

    Hear that sound? That means it’s time for Gene, Gene the Dancing Machine! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Dd6-KV0TR8 Actually it’s Milton DeLugg’s GONG SHOW band with a rendition of “Jumpin’ At The Woodside.”

  8. Gary Walters January 3, 2015

    Milton Delugg is still involved with NBC’s Macy Parade coverage.

  9. Leon Zetekoff January 3, 2015

    Stupid auto correct Milton delugg with a band of a thud

  10. John Wells January 3, 2015

    I just picked up a used LP (remember THEM?) yesterday of Mr. DeLugg and the Tonight Show Band.

  11. Robert Howe January 3, 2015

    Milton, later went on to be the leader of The Gong Show band.