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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 2011 National Cherry Blossom Festival
Background information
Born
Kevin Tyrone Eubanks

(1957-11-15) November 15, 1957 (age 68)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
  • Musician
  • composer
InstrumentGuitar
Years active1982–present
LabelMack Avenue
Websitekevineubanks.com

Kevin Tyrone Eubanks (born November 15, 1957)[1] is an American jazz and fusion guitarist and composer. He was the leader of The Tonight Show Band with host Jay Leno from 1995 to its original conclusion in 2009, and briefly again from March to May 2010 when the program was revived. He also led The Primetime Band on the short-lived The Jay Leno Show from September 2009 to February 2010.

Early life and education

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Eubanks was born into a musical family. His older brother, Robin Eubanks, is a trombonist, and his younger brothers Duane Eubanks is a trumpeter and Shane Eubanks is a DJ.[1] As an elementary school student, Eubanks was trained in violin, trumpet, and piano at the Settlement Music School (in Philadelphia). He later attended Berklee College of Music (in Boston, Massachusetts).[1]

Personal life

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Eubanks grew up in Philadelphia in a notable jazz family. His mother, Vera, was a public-school music teacher and played the Hammond organ for their local church. His uncles were Ray Bryant and Tommy Bryant, both known musicians. Eubanks was exposed at a young age to gospel music.[2] Eubanks is a pescetarian and maintains a diet of fresh fruits, vegetables, grains, egg whites, and fish.[3]

Career

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Eubanks performing at Bach Dancing & Dynamite Society, Half Moon Bay, California, October 1988.

After Eubanks moved to New York, he began performing with noted jazzmen such as Art Blakey (1980–81), Roy Haynes, Slide Hampton, and Sam Rivers.[1] Like his brother Robin, Eubanks has played on record with double bassist Dave Holland.[4]

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 the U.S. State Department.

In 2020, Eubanks appeared as a guest on the Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip marathon fundraiser episode of The 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 show You Bet Your Life.

Recording

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His first recording as a leader, Guitarist, was released on the Elektra label when Eubanks was 25 years old. It led to a seven-album contract with the GRP label and four albums for Blue 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 the Banff School of Fine Arts in Canada, at Rutgers University, and at the Charlie Parker School in Perugia, 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 the BMI Foundation since 1999.

The Tonight Show

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In 1992, Eubanks moved to the West Coast to play guitar in The Tonight Show Band. He composed "Kevin's Country", the closing theme music for The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.[5] In 1995, he replaced Branford Marsalis as 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-lived The Jay Leno Show. Eubanks appeared on the new show as The Primetime Band.

On April 12, 2010, Eubanks announced on the show that he would be leaving The Tonight Show following its 18th season. His last show was on May 30, 2010. He indicated in an interview with The Philadelphia Inquirer that he wanted to concentrate on music, adding that his leaving was not provoked by any problems with Leno or NBC.[6] Following his departure, he began touring with bandmate Marvin "Smitty" Smith on drums, Bill Pierce on saxophone, and Rene Camacho on bass.

Discography

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Eubanks performing 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)
  • Duets with Stanley 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 to Kevin Eubanks.
  1. ^ a b c d Colin Larkin, ed. (1992). The Guinness Who's Who of Jazz (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 138. ISBN 0-85112-580-8.
  2. ^ Mergner, Lee (July 20, 2024). "Kevin Eubanks' Remarkable Life Journey". JazzTimes. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
  3. ^ Falcon, Mike (November 4, 2002). "Kevin Eubanks beefs up without meat". USA Today. Archived from the original on September 12, 2005.
  4. ^ Scott Yanow. "Kevin Eubanks". AllMusic. Retrieved January 27, 2009.
  5. ^ "Lights, Camera, Reaction! Kevin Eubanks" Archived October 17, 2015, at the Wayback Machine, International Musician, July 2007
  6. ^ Chinen, Nate (May 30, 2012). "Sidekick No More: Eubanks Starts Post-Leno Life". The New York Times.
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