Known for movies

Short Info

Date Of BirthNovember 15, 1957
FactAn accomplished guitarist


Kevin Eubanks is an American jazz and fusion guitarist and composer who was the leader of The Tonight Show Band with Jay Leno from 1995 to 2010. He has released 17 albums as a leader and has appeared on over 100 albums as a sideman.

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Eubanks was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on November 27, 1957, the son of Shirley (née Oliver) and Raymond Eubanks. His father played trumpet and his mother was a singer. He has two brothers, Robin and Wade, both of whom are also musicians. Eubanks began playing guitar at the age of 8 and studied classical guitar at the Settlement Music School. He also played in rock bands in high school.

Eubanks attended the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, where he studied jazz guitar with Pat Martino. He later studied with Joe Pass and Dennis Sandole. He also attended Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts.

Eubanks began his professional career in New York City in the early 1980s. He played with Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, Stanley Jordan, and Dizzy Gillespie. He also toured with Roy Ayers and Grover Washington Jr.. In 1985, he made his first appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson as a member of Leader’s Edge, a group led by bassist Mark Egan.

In 1986, Eubanks became a member of Branford Marsalis’s band and toured with him for two years. He also appeared on Marsalis’s Grammy-winning album Scenes from the Southside (1988).

In 1990, Eubanks formed his own band, The Kevin Eubanks Quintet. The group released its debut album, The Heat of Heat, in 1991. The album featured Eubanks’s compositions as well as arrangements of standards such as “My Funny Valentine” and “Summertime”.

In 1992, Eubanks appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson for the last time as a member of Marsalis’s band. When Jay Leno took over as host of The Tonight Show in May 1995, he chose Eubanks to be the leader of The Tonight Show Band.

Eubanks remained with The Tonight Show Band until May 2010, when he announced that he was leaving the show to focus on his solo career.

Since leaving The Tonight Show, Eubanks has released several albums as a leader, including The Messenger (2011), Soulful Side (2013), and East West Time Line (2017). He has also continued to tour and perform internationally.

Eubanks has an estimated net worth of $5 million. He has been married twice and has three children.

General Info

Full NameKevin Eubanks
Date Of BirthNovember 15, 1957
ProfessionFilm Score Composer, Guitarist, Actor, Moments Aren't Moments, Songhouse, Morning Sun
EducationBerklee College of Music
NationalityAmerican

Family

ParentsVera Eubanks
SiblingsRobin Eubanks, Duane Eubanks, Moments Aren't Moments, Songhouse, Morning Sun

Accomplishments

NominationsNAACP Image Award for Outstanding Jazz Album, Soul Train Music Award for Best Traditional Jazz Performance, Moments Aren't Moments, Songhouse, Morning Sun
TV ShowsThe Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Jay Leno Show

Social profile links

Facts

#Fact
1Currently the band-leader and right-hand man of Jay Leno on The Jay Leno Show (2009) (10:00 p.m. ET/PT). [September 2009]
2Maternal nephew of Ray Bryant, jazz pianist in jazz and blues music.
3Son of Vera Bryant Eubanks; brother Duane Eubanks, a trumpeter and jazz musician.
4Cousin of Raphael Bryant Jr. and Gina Bryant. Maternal nephew of Claude Bryant.
5Nephew of Ray Bryant.
6Alumnus of Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
7Is a big fan of the Philadelphia Eagles.
8Was the Lead band member on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (1992). from 1995 - 2009.
9Is a vegetarian.
10Younger brother of trombonist Robin Eubanks.
11An accomplished guitarist

Pictures

Movies

Music Department

TitleYearStatusCharacter
The Tonight Show with Jay LenoTV Series musical director - 1,836 episodes, 1994 - 2009 musician - 2 episodes, 2009 - 2010

Actor

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Royal Pains2014TV SeriesKevin
Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip2006TV SeriesKevin Eubanks
Girlfriends2003TV SeriesGuitarist
Days of Our Lives2002TV SeriesEubie Banks
Longshot2001Jazz Club Performer
V.I.P.2000TV SeriesPaul Moss
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno1995TV SeriesMusical Director

Soundtrack

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Home & Family2013TV Series performer - 1 episode
The Tonight Show with Jay LenoTV Series performer - 4 episodes, 2010 - 2013 writer - 2 episodes, 2010 - 2013
The Great Buck Howard2008performer: "Kevin's Country Tonight Show Closing Theme" - as Kevin T. Eubanks / writer: "Kevin's Country Tonight Show Closing Theme" - as Kevin T. Eubanks

Composer

TitleYearStatusCharacter
The Week That Girl Died1998
The Dinner1997
Psalms from the Underground1996Short
Rebound: The Legend of Earl 'The Goat' Manigault1996TV Movie

Self

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Oprah: Where Are They Now?2016TV SeriesHimself
Tween Fest2016TV SeriesHimself
The 3rd Annual Noble Awards2015TV MovieHimself - Presenter
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon2015TV SeriesHimself - Guest Musician
Teens Wanna Know2015TV SeriesHimself - Guest
17th Annual Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize for American Humor: Jay Leno2014TV MovieHimself
Today2014TV SeriesHimself
The Arsenio Hall Show2013TV SeriesHimself - Musical Guest
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno1995-2013TV SeriesHimself - Musical Director / Himself / Himself - Bandleader / ...
Home & Family2013TV SeriesHimself - Guest
Hollywood Uncensored with Sam Rubin2012TV SeriesHimself
79th Annual Hollywood Christmas Parade2010TV MovieHimself
Tavis Smiley2010TV SeriesHimself
The View2010TV SeriesHimself
The Jay Leno Show2009-2010TV SeriesHimself - Bandleader
74th Annual Hollywood Christmas Parade2005TV SpecialHimself
I Love the '90s: Part Deux2005TV Series documentaryHimself
The 17th Annual Soul Train Music Awards2003TV SpecialHimself
Hollywood Squares1999-2003TV SeriesHimself - Panelist
The Chris Isaak Show2001TV SeriesHimself
30th NAACP Image Awards1999TV SpecialHimself
WCW/NWO Road Wild1998TV MovieHimself
Muppets Tonight1997TV SeriesHimself

Awards

Won Awards

YearAwardCeremonyNominationMovie
2005Classic Contribution AwardBMI Film & TV AwardsThe Tonight Show (1962)

Source: IMDb, Wikipedia

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