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Kevin Eubanks

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Kevin Eubanks
Eubanks performing at the 2011 National Cherry Blossom Festival
Eubanks performing at the 2011National Cherry Blossom Festival
Background information
Birth nameKevin Tyrone Eubanks
Born(1957-11-15)November 15, 1957(age 66)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,U.S.
GenresJazz,rock
Occupation(s)Musician, composer
InstrumentGuitar
Years active1982–present
LabelsMack Avenue
Websitekevineubanks

Kevin Tyrone Eubanks(born November 15, 1957)[1]is an Americanjazzand fusion guitarist and composer. He was the leader ofThe Tonight Show Bandwith hostJay Lenofrom 1995 to 2010. He also ledthe Primetime Bandon the short-livedThe Jay Leno Show.

Early life and education

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Eubanks was born into a musical family. His older brother,Robin Eubanks,is atrombonist,and his younger brothersDuane Eubanksis a trumpeter and Shane Eubanks is a DJ.[1]As an elementary school student, Eubanks was trained in violin, trumpet, and piano at theSettlement Music School(in Philadelphia). He later attendedBerklee College of Music(inBoston, Massachusetts).[1]

Personal life

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Eubanks is apescetarianand maintains a diet of fresh fruits, vegetables, grains, egg whites, and fish.[2]

Career

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Eubanks performs atBach Dancing & Dynamite Society,Half Moon Bay, California,October 1988.

After Eubanks moved to New York, he began performing with noted jazzmen such asArt Blakey(1980–81),Roy Haynes,Slide HamptonandSam Rivers.[1]Like his brotherRobin,Eubanks has played on record with double bassistDave Holland.[3]

In 1983, while continuing to perform with others, he formed his own quartet, playing gigs in Jordan, Pakistan, and India on a tour sponsored by theU.S. State Department.

In 2020, Eubanks appeared as a guest on theStudio 60 on the Sunset Stripmarathon fundraiser episode ofThe George Lucas Talk Show.In the fall of 2021, Eubanks returned to working with Leno, as a sidekick on a revival of the TV game showYou Bet Your Life.

Recording

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His first recording as a leader,Guitarist,was released on theElektralabel when Eubanks was 25 years old. It led to a seven-album contract with theGRP labeland four albums forBlue Note.In total, Eubanks has appeared on over 100 albums. In 2001, he founded the label Insoul Music on which he has released six albums.

Teaching

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Eubanks has taught at theBanff School of Fine Artsin Canada, atRutgers University,and at the Charlie Parker School inPerugia,Italy. In 2005, Eubanks received an honorary doctorate degree from his alma mater, Berklee College of Music. He has served as an active member of the Artistic Advisory Panel of theBMI Foundationsince 1999.

The Tonight Show

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In 1992, Eubanks moved to the West Coast to play guitar inThe Tonight Show Band.He composed "Kevin's Country," the closing theme music forThe Tonight Show with Jay Leno.[4]In 1995, he replacedBranford Marsalisas leader of the band.

When NBC moved Leno's show from late night to prime time, Eubanks moved with the band to continue conducting music for the short-livedThe Jay Leno Show.Eubanks appeared on the new show asThe Primetime Band.

On April 12, 2010, Eubanks announced on the show that he would be leavingThe Tonight Showfollowing its 18th season. His last show was on Friday, In May 2010. He indicated in an interview withThe Philadelphia Inquirerthat he wanted to concentrate on music, adding that his leaving was not provoked by any problems with Leno or NBC.[5]Following his departure fromThe Tonight Show,he began touring with bandmateMarvin "Smitty" Smithon drums, Bill Pierce on saxophone, and Rene Camacho on bass.

Discography

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Eubanks in 1978

As leader

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  • Guitarist(Elektra Musician,1983)
  • Sundance(GRP,1984)
  • Opening Night(GRP, 1985)
  • Face to Face(GRP, 1986)
  • The Heat of Heat(GRP, 1987)
  • Shadow Prophets(GRP, 1988)
  • The Searcher(GRP, 1989)
  • Promise of Tomorrow(GRP, 1990)
  • Turning Point(Blue Note,1992)
  • Spirit Talk(Blue Note, 1993)
  • Live at Bradley's(Blue Note, 1994)
  • Spirit Talk 2 – Revelations(Blue Note, 1995)
  • Zen Food(Mack Avenue,2010)
  • The Messenger(Mack Avenue, 2012)
  • DuetswithStanley Jordan(Mack Avenue, 2015)
  • East West Time Line(Mack Avenue, 2017)

As sideman

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See also

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References

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Wikimedia Commons has media related toKevin Eubanks.
  1. ^abcdColin Larkin,ed. (1992).The Guinness Who's Who of Jazz(First ed.).Guinness Publishing.p. 138.ISBN0-85112-580-8.
  2. ^Falcon, Mike (November 4, 2002)."Kevin Eubanks beefs up without meat".USA Today.Archived fromthe originalon September 12, 2005.
  3. ^Scott Yanow."Kevin Eubanks".AllMusic.RetrievedJanuary 27,2009.
  4. ^"Lights, Camera, Reaction! Kevin Eubanks"ArchivedOctober 17, 2015, at theWayback Machine,International Musician,July 2007
  5. ^Chinen, Nate (May 30, 2012)."Sidekick No More: Eubanks Starts Post-Leno Life".The New York Times.
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Media offices
Preceded by The Tonight Showbandleader
1995–2009 		Succeeded by
Preceded by The Tonight Showbandleader
2010 		Succeeded by
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