"Tonight Show" bandleader Kevin Eubanks has made it official: He's leaving as Jay Leno's sideman in May after 18 years with the late-night host.
He told Leno during Monday's taping of “Tonight" in Burbank, Calif., that he was ready for a career change of pace, but he didn't announce specific plans. Eubanks called the NBC late-night show his “home" and said it had been “a wonderful experience" working there.
Eubanks, 52, whose duties included comic sidekick to Leno as well as guitarist, has been aboard since Leno took over “Tonight" in 1992. Eubanks became musical director when Branford Marsalis left in 1995.
In February, NBC said Eubanks had expressed interest in personal touring and recording.
His final day on “Tonight" is May 28. NBC did not immediately announce his replacement.
“After 18 years of playing America into commercials, I'm gonna go somewhere where I can finish a song," Eubanks said when Leno asked what he planned to do first.
Leno, who invited Eubanks to sit with him to make the announcement, called their time together “a pleasure."
“You've been a great friend and really supportive. When those jokes die, I got to look to you, man," Leno told him.
In an interview afterward, Eubanks said he had no specific plans and was “keeping everything open."
Asked about the highlights of his “Tonight" years, Eubanks said it was “just meeting B.B. King, Willie Nelson, all these wonderful musicians that I've grown to be friends with."
He told Leno during Monday's taping of “Tonight" in Burbank, Calif., that he was ready for a career change of pace, but he didn't announce specific plans. Eubanks called the NBC late-night show his “home" and said it had been “a wonderful experience" working there.
Eubanks, 52, whose duties included comic sidekick to Leno as well as guitarist, has been aboard since Leno took over “Tonight" in 1992. Eubanks became musical director when Branford Marsalis left in 1995.
In February, NBC said Eubanks had expressed interest in personal touring and recording.
His final day on “Tonight" is May 28. NBC did not immediately announce his replacement.
“After 18 years of playing America into commercials, I'm gonna go somewhere where I can finish a song," Eubanks said when Leno asked what he planned to do first.
Leno, who invited Eubanks to sit with him to make the announcement, called their time together “a pleasure."
“You've been a great friend and really supportive. When those jokes die, I got to look to you, man," Leno told him.
In an interview afterward, Eubanks said he had no specific plans and was “keeping everything open."
Asked about the highlights of his “Tonight" years, Eubanks said it was “just meeting B.B. King, Willie Nelson, all these wonderful musicians that I've grown to be friends with."
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