Editing Doc Severinsen (section)

==Early life==
Severinsen was born in [[Arlington, Oregon]], to Minnie Mae (1897–1998) and Carl Severinsen (1898–1972).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.filmreference.com/film/42/Doc-Severinsen.html |title=Doc Severinsen profile |website=Filmreference.com |access-date=October 26, 2011}}</ref> He was nicknamed Doc after his father, the only dentist in Arlington, who was born in Germany to a Danish father and a Swiss mother. Severinsen's father played [[violin]] and wanted him to play it as well, but Severinsen wanted to play [[trombone]].<ref name="Huey">{{cite web |last1=Huey |first1=Steve |title=Doc Severinsen |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/doc-severinsen-mn0000167794/biography |website=AllMusic |access-date=October 4, 2017}}</ref> Because his arms were not long enough for trombone,<ref name=docseverinsen>{{cite web |url=http://www.docseverinsen.com/about/ |title=Bio |website=Doc Severinsen |date=10 January 2011 |access-date=December 30, 2022}}</ref> and the small Arlington music store had none available, he settled for the [[cornet]]. A neighbor provided him with some lessons, while his father, tobacco in mouth, instructed him to spit out the notes like spitting tobacco. His mother threatened to spank him if he didn't practice.<ref name="Jackovich">{{cite web |last1=Jackovich |first1=Karen |title=It's a Long Day's Journey from 'Tonight' When Doc Severinsen Comes Home to Oregon |url=http://people.com/archive/its-a-long-days-journey-from-tonight-when-doc-severinsen-comes-home-to-oregon-vol-16-no-2/ |website=People |access-date=October 4, 2017 |date=July 13, 1981}}</ref> Growing up, Severinsen idolized the trumpeter and band leader [[Harry James]].

<blockquote>"wining ([[sic]]) the <!-- Music Educator’s National Contest -->[[Music Teachers National Association]]’s National Contest at the age of 12"<ref name="pbs-am-Severinsen">{{cite web |last1=Amin |first1=Aisha |title=Never Too Late: The Doc Severinsen Story |url=https://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/stream-never-too-late-doc-severinsen-story-documentary/17495/ |website=[[American Masters]] |publisher=[[PBS]] |access-date=14 February 2025 |date=8 March 2021}}</ref> - [[PBS]]</blockquote>

Severinsen proved to have a knack for the instrument, and was in a high school band when he was seven. At 9, he won a state trumpet contest, at 13, he joined a multi-state all-star band and, at 14, he auditioned for [[Tommy Dorsey]] but was not hired. He started a quartet called the Blue Notes that performed at local dances.<ref name="Jackovich" />

Before graduating from high school, he was hired to go on the road with the [[Ted Fio Rito]] Orchestra.<ref name="Jackovich" /> After graduation, he went on tour with [[Charlie Barnet]], [[Tommy Dorsey]], and [[Benny Goodman]].<ref name="Huey" /> He served in the Army during World War II.<ref name=docseverinsen/> Severinsen was a member of [[Sam Donahue]]'s band between 1946 and 1951. In 1946, he played trumpet on radio station [[KODL]].<ref>{{cite web |publisher=RadioFreshing KODL |title=About Us |url=http://www.kodl.com/KODL/media/abotkodl.html |access-date=April 13, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090627112552/http://www.kodl.com/KODL/media/abotkodl.html |archive-date=June 27, 2009}}</ref>