Kevin Eubanks is famously known as the music director of "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" and as a jazz guitarist. He was born on November 15, 1957 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Kevin comes from a musical family: uncle Ray Bryant, mother Vera Eubanks and brother Robin Neubanks. He has studied guitar at Berklee College Of Music and with Ted Dunbar. Afterwards, he was with Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers from 1980-1981. He has also worked with Roy Haynes, Slide Hampton, Gary Thomas and Mike Gibbs.
Kevin has been a member of "The Tonight Show" since the television program premiered in May 1992. He has written the show's closing theme song "Kevin's country" and was officially named music director of the show in April 1995 after substituting for the former director, Branford Marsalis. Kevin has released 12 albums in his 14 year recording career and collaborated with many other musicians: James Williams, Robert Hurst, Dave Grusin and Ron Carter.
Facts:
Kevin has been featured in major muscle magazines such as Muscle & Fitness, Men's Fitness and Flex.
He has been eating as a vegetarian since his college days.
Wes Montgomery, John McLaughlin and Jimi Hendrix are his principal guitar influences.
His website is at http://www.kevineubanks.com
Kevin Eubanks' filmography:
As a Composer:
The Week That Girl Died (1998)
The Dinner (1997/I)
Psalms from the Underground (1996)
Rebound: The Legend of Earl 'The Goat' Manigault (1996) (TV)
As an Actor:
"Days of Our Lives" (1965) TV Series .... Eubie Banks (2002)
"The Tonight Show" (1954) TV Series .... Bandleader (1995-present)
"The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" (1992) TV Series .... Bandleader (1995-)
Notable TV Guest Appearances:
"Girlfriends" (2000) playing "Himself" in episode: "Happy Valentine's Day...Baby?" (episode # 3.15) 10 February 2003
"The Chris Isaak Show" (2001) playing "Himself" in episode: "Behind the Isaak" (episode # 1.17) 2 July 2001
"V.I.P." (1998) playing "Paul Moss" in episode: "V.I.P., R.I.P." (episode # 3.4) 28 October 2000
"Muppets Tonight!" (1996) playing "Himself" in episode: "The Cameo Show" (episode # 2.8) 7 December 1997
Sources:
http://www.nbc.com/The_Tonight_Show_with_Jay_Leno/bios/Kevin_Eubanks.html
http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0004903/
http://www.tvtome.com/tvtome/servlet/DetailsServlet/epid-0/showid-0/personid-39431/moduleid-38
http://www.bmi.com/musicworld/features/200008/keubanks.asp
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/spotlighthealth/2002-11-04-eubanks-meatless_x.htm
http://www.cyclonecafe.com/tedkurland/artist.php3?code=KEV