Don Sweeney

Born and raised in New York City (Queens, Long Island), Don Sweeney always had the performer bug in him. In high school Don hosted annual talent shows telling jokes and playing drums. During those years he studied percussion with The Tonight Show drummer Ed Shaughnessy and later with drummer Bill Ben in Manhattan. Don was highly influenced by the drumming of Ed Shaughnessy and "World Famous Drummer" Buddy Rich.

Don actually has a set of drums he calls "The Magic Drums." It is a Ludwig set given to him by Johnny Carson when Johnny learned that Don's drums were stollen. But it was a set of drums given to Johnny Carson by his best friend, Buddy Rich. (see them displayed on YouTube.com) Go to: YouTube Clip

In 1973, when Don was old enough to venture the world on his own here located to Los Angeles. Playing drums since he was eleven years old and professionally since the early seventies, Don toured throughout Canada and the United States with the Earl Rose Trio and with the Irving Berlin Century Show. Don has performed with several symphony orchestras, such as, the Corpus Christi Symphony in Texas, the Asheville Symphony in North Carolina the Los Angeles Pops Orchestra and the Orange County Symphony in California and The Jacksonville Symphony in Florida.

In 1981 he formed his own band called the SRO Band specializing in music for all occasions and ranging in size from a trio to a full seventeen piece big band. Over the years the band played for Johnny Carson, Ray Charles, and Frank Sinatra, to name a few.

Don Sweeney has also played drums on many television shows, such as, A Tribute To Tennessee Ernie Ford Show, Chico and The Man, The Bob Hope Show, and several cartoon specials for CBS Television. In 1976 he was hired by NBC to work behind the scenes on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. In his fifteen years with that show he was promoted from Production Assistant to Assistant Music Conductor.

On May 22, 1992 after thirty successful years, Johnny Carson stepped down as host of The Tonight Show and comedian Jay Leno took over the spot as it became The Tonight Show With Jay Leno. Don Sweeney was once again promoted to Music Supervisor for NBC Productions. Don has also appeared as numerous characters in the comedy skits on Jay's show.

In 1995 Don left The Tonight Show and went on to become Supervising Producer for an ABC Special entitled Tonight's Unlikely Program and as Music Supervisor for The Howie Mandel Show. Don also scored a short film for Warner Brothers Studios and wrote several jingles for commercials in Southern California.

In addition to producing some TV commercials for Lexus Automobiles, Don soon became a video editor learning AVID Media, AVID Audio Vision, and became an Online Media Specialist. He has edited projects for Sony Music and produced and edited several music videos and various short features.

He is currently Director of Operations for the Valley Cultural Center producing live "Concerts In The Park" in Woodland Hills. Don has also written a book about his twenty years with The Tonight Show entitled "Backstage at the Tonight Show" published by Taylor Trade Publishing. It's now available in stores everywhere and on www.amazon.com.