Description: (Saxophonist)
Tommy Newsom was a skilled saxophone player and assistant director in the NBC Orchestra on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. He often stepped in as the band's director when needed. Carson nicknamed him "Mr. Excitement" for his calm demeanor that played off Carson's humor. Newsom's understated style, in contrast to the flashy outfits of the music director, Doc Severinsen, was a key element in the show's popularity.