Pete Christlieb

For years, he had been heard on prime-time television shows, from Gene Roddenberry's original "Star Trek" to its sequel shows - "Star Trek-The Next Generation". As a part of the Johnny Carson /Doc Severinsen "Tonight Show Band", he performed nightly to an audience of millions. His evocative tenor saxophone sound was lauded on Natalie Cole's "Unforgettable" album. He began by playing in top-notch big bands and combos; his own albums have been nominated for several Grammy awards. Despite such impressive achievements, Pete Christlieb comes across as a pragmatic individual who truly enjoys music and its daily grind. While performing with Della Reese in Las Vegas, his path crossed with yet another stellar bandleader, famous for his showcasing of woodwind players - Woody Herman. Christlieb heard that Herman band member Joe Farrell was leaving, and he was asked to join. When that job ended, he returned to Los Angeles; this time he began to work with former Ellington drummer Louis Bellson. The two formed a partnership that has strengthened and flourished for over three decades. It was the work with Bellson that led to Christlieb's appointment to "The Tonight Show". "For me, the exposure and promotion that I received there was immeasurable," Christlieb said. "As a band member on camera every night, I was always visible and being promoted. I'm sure that a lot of today's projects were mad possible because of those years on "The Tonight Show".

Christlieb formed his own group, and for a while, had his own record label. "I worked with Warne Marsh and my current bassist Jim Hughart. I also started producing my records under my own label - Bosco Records, which I named after a Boston Great Dane that I had at that time". Nowadays he prefers to concentrate on performing and leave the business arrangements to others.