A house band is a group of musicians, often centrally organized by a band leader, who regularly play an establishment. It is widely used to refer both to the bands who work on entertainment programs on television or radio, and to bands which are the regular performers at a nightclub, especially jazz and R&B clubs. The term can also refer to a group that plays sessions for a specific recording studio. House bands on television shows usually play only cover songs instead of originals and they play during times which commercials would be seen by the home viewing audience, therefore only those present in the studio during the show's taping see their full performances.
Some notable house bands include:
- The Grateful Dead (The Acid Tests by Ken Kesey), (1964–1968)
- The NBC Orchestra (The Tonight Show), (1954–1992)
- The Roots (Late Night with Jimmy Fallon)
- 4 Poofs and a Piano (Friday Night with Jonathan Ross)
- Booker T. & the M.G.s (Stax Records)
- CBS Orchestra (Late Show with David Letterman): led by Paul Schaffer
- The Funk Brothers (Motown Records)
- MFSB (Philadelphia International Records)
- Branford Marsalis and The Tonight Show Band (The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, 1992–1995)
- Kevin Eubanks and The Tonight Show Band (The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, (1995–2010)
- Kevin Eubanks and the Primetime Band (The Jay Leno Show same ensemble as above, 2009)
- Rickey Minor and The Tonight Show Band (The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, 2010–present)
- Max Weinberg and The Tonight Show Band (The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien)
- The Max Weinberg 7 (Late Night with Conan O'Brien, same ensemble as above)
- Jimmy Vivino and the Basic Cable Band (Conan)
- Saturday Night Live Band (Saturday Night Live): led by Lenny Pickett
- Joe Firstman on Last Call with Carson Daly
- Cleto and the Cletones, (Jimmy Kimmel Live!): led by Cleto Escobedo III
- Michael Bearden and the Ese Vatos (Lopez Tonight)
- Rockapella (Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego?)
- Big Jim's Penthouse Playas (The Mo'Nique Show) led by James "Big Jim" Wright
- The House Band (Rock Star)
- Ricky Minor (Don't Forget the Lyrics)
Read more about House Band: Associated With Record Labels and Studios
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