Ed Shaughnessy


Edwin Thomas Shaughnessy was a swing music and jazz drummer long associated with Doc Severinsen and a member of The [Tonight Show Band] on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.

Biography

Shaughnessy was born in Jersey City, New Jersey and grew up in the New [York City] area, working in the 1940s with George Shearing, Jack Teagarden, and Charlie Ventura. In the 1950s he worked in the Charlie Ventura, Benny Goodman and Tommy Dorsey bands. In the 1960s he played for Count Basie prior to joining The Tonight Show Band. He was the drummer on Bashin': The Unpredictable Jimmy Smith in 1962 which featured big band arrangements by Oliver Nelson, including the pop hit "Walk on the Wild Side" which peaked at #21 on the Billboard chart. Shaughnessy recorded extensively throughout his career and was known for his drum competitions with Buddy Rich.
Although best known as a big band drummer, Shaughnessy also performed small group work with Gene Ammons, Roy Eldridge, Billie Holiday, Mundell Lowe, Teo Macero, Charles Mingus, Shirley Scott, Jack Sheldon, Horace Silver, and many others. For several years Shaughnessy was a member of the house band at Birdland and other New York clubs. In the early 1970s he was doing similar work in Los Angeles and is credited with discovering Diane Schuur, whom he introduced at the 1976 Monterey Jazz Festival. Shaughnessy played in an early incarnation of the "Sesame Street" orchestra along with percussionist Danny Epstein, reed player Wally Kane, and, on occasion, guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli.
Shaughnessy was married to Ilene Woods, the original voice of Cinderella, who died in 2010. He died of a heart attack in Calabasas, California at the age of 84. He was cremated. He was survived by his son Daniel, his stepdaughter Stephanie and grandchildren. His other son James preceded him in death from a car accident in 1984.

Discography

As sideman

With Trigger AlpertTrigger Happy!
With Gene AmmonsThe Soulful Moods of Gene Ammons
With George Barnes
  • Guitars Galore
With Count BasieBasie Swingin' Voices Singin' with the Alan Copeland SingersBroadway Basie's...Way Hollywood...Basie's Way Basie's Beat Half a Sixpence
With Tony BennettCloud 7
With George BensonThe Other Side of Abbey Road
With Stephen BishopBish
With Bob BrookmeyerThe Dual Role of Bob Brookmeyer
With Gary BurtonThe Groovy Sound of Music
With Teddy CharlesNew Directions Collaboration West Word from Bird Jazz In The Garden At The Museum Of Modern Art
With Jimmy ForrestSoul Street
With Dizzy GillespieCornucopia
With Jimmy GiuffreThe Music Man
With Honi GordonHoni Gordon Sings
With Johnny HodgesMess of Blues with Wild Bill Davis
With Etta JonesFrom the Heart Lonely and Blue
With Quincy JonesGolden Boy
With Hubert LawsCrying Song
With Peggy LeeBlack Coffee
With Mundell LoweThe Mundell Lowe Quartet Guitar Moods New Music of Alec Wilder Porgy & Bess TV Action Jazz! Themes from Mr. Lucky, the Untouchables and Other TV Action Jazz
With Johnny MathisJohnny Mathis
With Mary Ann McCallMelancholy Baby
With Kathy McCordKathy McCord
With Helen Merrill
With Maria MuldaurMaria Muldaur
With Oliver NelsonImpressions of Phaedra Happenings with Hank Jones
With Joe Newman Joe Newman with Woodwinds Joe Newman Quintet at Count Basie's
With Lalo SchifrinBetween Broadway & Hollywood
With Shirley ScottFor Members Only Roll 'Em: Shirley Scott Plays the Big Bands
With Ed SummerlinRing Out Joy
With Clark TerryColor Changes Clark Terry Plays the Jazz Version of All American
With Cal Tjader
With Chuck Wayne