Tonight Show Vet Dead at 78
Former Tonight Show backup bandleader Tommy Newsom died of cancer Saturday at age 78. Newsom first joined the late nighter in 1962 as a sax player in the band before ultimately rising to the position of assistant music director and earning the sarcasm-laden nickname "Mr. Excitement" from Carson. Newsom retired along with Carson in 1992.
Tue, May 1, 2007