Kevin Eubanks facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kevin Eubanks
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Eubanks performing at the 2011 National Cherry Blossom Festival
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Kevin Tyrone Eubanks |
| Born | November 15, 1957 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Genres | Jazz, rock |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, composer |
| Instruments | Guitar |
| Years active | 1982–present |
| Labels | Mack Avenue |
| Associated acts | The Tonight Show Band, Branford Marsalis |
Kevin Tyrone Eubanks (born November 15, 1957) is an American guitarist and composer famous for his work in jazz music. He is best known for leading The Tonight Show Band for host Jay Leno from 1995 to 2010.
As a musician, Eubanks plays a style called "fusion," which mixes jazz with other types of music, like rock. He also led the Primetime Band on the TV program The Jay Leno Show.
Contents
Life and Family
Kevin Eubanks was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, into a family full of musicians. His older brother, Robin Eubanks, plays the trombone, and his younger brother, Duane Eubanks, plays the trumpet.
When he was in elementary school, Eubanks learned to play the violin, trumpet, and piano. He later went to the Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, to study music more seriously.
His mother, Vera, was a music teacher and played the organ at their church. His uncles, Ray Bryant and Tommy Bryant, were also well-known jazz musicians. Eubanks is married and has two children. He follows a pescetarian diet, which means he eats vegetables, fruits, and fish but no other meat.
Music Career
After finishing his studies, Eubanks moved to New York City to start his career. He quickly began playing with famous jazz artists like Art Blakey, Roy Haynes, and Slide Hampton. He also played with his brother Robin and the famous bass player Dave Holland.
In 1983, he started his own band. The group toured countries like Jordan, Pakistan, and India, with help from the U.S. State Department.
Leading The Tonight Show Band
In 1992, Eubanks joined The Tonight Show Band as a guitarist. He even wrote the show's closing theme song, called "Kevin's Country." Three years later, in 1995, he became the band's leader, replacing Branford Marsalis.
For 15 years, millions of people saw Eubanks on TV every weeknight, where he and Jay Leno would often joke with each other. When Leno started a new program called The Jay Leno Show, Eubanks and his band, renamed the Primetime Band, went with him.
Eubanks left The Tonight Show in 2010 to focus more on his own music and go on tour. In 2021, he teamed up with Jay Leno again for a new version of the TV game show You Bet Your Life.
Recording and Teaching
Eubanks released his first album, Guitarist, when he was 25. He has recorded many albums for major record labels like GRP and Blue Note. In total, he has appeared on over 100 different albums, both as a leader and playing with other artists.
Besides performing, Eubanks has also taught music. He has been a teacher at Rutgers University and at schools in Canada and Italy. Because of his amazing contributions to music, his old school, Berklee College of Music, gave him an honorary doctorate degree in 2005.
Selected Albums
Eubanks has released many albums. Here are a few of his works as a band leader:
- Guitarist (1983)
- Face to Face (1986)
- The Heat of Heat (1987)
- Turning Point (1992)
- Spirit Talk (1993)
- Live at Bradley's (1994)
- Zen Food (2010)
- The Messenger (2012)
- East West Time Line (2017)
See also
- Jazz Bridge
