Ed Shaughnessy is best known as being the drummer of the Tonight Show band for 29 years under the leadership of Doc Severinsen. He has assembled an impressive resumé, having consistently played with the legends of the genre at an early age. Born in New Jersey on January 29, 1929, Shaughnessy began playing drums at age 14. Five years later he was playing professionally with George Shearing and Bud Powell. His range of credentials includes stints with Charles Mingus, Benny Goodman, and Horace Silver, as well as several symphony orchestras. Shaughnessy leads his own big band, Energy Force, and taught at New York University along with conducting drum clinics at Skidmore College in New York. His percussion credits have appeared on over 500 recordings.