Shelly Cohen

After joining NBC in the 1950s, Cohen worked on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson from Oct. 1, 1962 - when Groucho Marx introduced the new late-night host from Studio 6B at Rockefeller Center in New York - until Carson's final appearance from Burbank Studios on May 22, 1992. When The Tonight Show moved to California in 1972, Cohen came west as well and became choir director of St. Mel's Church in Woodland Hills for 20 years and produced jazz Masses and yearly concerts. A two-time Grammy nominee, Cohen also appeared as guest conductor with the Los Angeles Pops, the Virginia Pops, the Pasadena Pops and the Brentwood Symphony; founded the 80-voice New Horizon Singers and the Pacific Pops Orchestra; and had his own band, The Swing Tones.