NBC.com > The Tonight Show with Jay Leno

Vicki Randle
as Percussion, Vocals

Percussionist/Vocalist Vicki Randle is the first female band member in the history of �The Tonight Show.� She is a native of San Francisco, where she lived for the 15 years prior to moving to Los Angeles to start with the �The Tonight Show.� With the influence of her father, Norvell, an accomplished jazz pianist, and along with her brother Tom, a successful lead tenor appearing with major European opera companies, Randle�s love for music surfaced as a child, singing in school, church choir and on local kids� TV shows. She got her professional start at age 16 as a singer/songwriter, first appearing in such local noted venues as Los Angeles� famed Bla-Bla Cafe and McCabe�s Guitar Shop. Relocating to Los Angeles at 20, she began playing percussion in earnest, and in addition to her vocal talents she quickly became a popular addition to the bands of numerous Bay Area artists such as Narada Michael Walden, John Handy, Pharoah Saunders and Pete Escovido (father of Sheila E). Randle toured and/or recorded with artists George Benson, Lionel Richie, Aretha Franklin, Laura Nyro, Kenny Loggins and many others. She most recently played for the Clinton Presidential Inauguration in the Arkansas Ball All-Star-Band, led by David Pack including artists Michael McDonald, Bruce Hornsby and George Duke and continues to appear regularly in Los Angeles clubs.

GERRY ETKINS
Keyboard

KEVIN EUBANKS
Music Director

MATT FINDERS
Trombone

JAY LENO
Host

JOHN MELENDEZ
Announcer

RALPH MOORE
Saxophone

VICKI RANDLE
Percussion, Vocals

MARVIN 'SMITTY' SMITH
Drummer

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