For many years on “The Tonight Show,” when a Johnny Carson joke was punctuated by a rim-shot, the drumsticks were in the hands of Ed Shaughnessy.

Born Edwin Thomas Shaughnessy on Jan. 29, 1929, in Jersey City, N.J., he grew up in the New York City area. An accomplished percussionist in several styles, Shaughnessy is perhaps best known for his role in the Tonight Show Band under bandleader Doc Severinsen.

Shaughnessy began his career in the 1940s around New York City, teaming with the likes of George Shearing, Jack Teagarden and Charlie Ventura. In the 1950s he hooked up with the Benny Goodman and Tommy Dorsey bands. And, in the 1960s, prior to joining Severinsen’s group to play on the show Carson made famous, Shaughnessy backed the great Count Basie.

Aside from his big band associations, Shaughnessy has worked with numerous artists in small-group settings. His list of collaborations includes Gene Ammons, Roy Eldridge, Mundell Lowe, Teo Macero, Horace Silver, Charles Mingus and the great Billie Holiday. For a number of years, Shaughnessy also played in the house band at the Birdland and other New York clubs. He was working in a similar role in L.A. clubs when he was credited with discovering Diane Schuur, who is a vocalist and masterful pianist despite her blindness. Shaughnessy introduced her at the 1976 Monterey Jazz Festival.

Shaughnessy was well known for his lively and intense drum competitions with Buddy Rich.

He also has worked as a percussion teacher and maintains a busy recording and live performance schedule despite his other professional obligations.

Shaughnessy endorses Ludwig drums, Sabian cymbals and Pro-Mark drumsticks.