PORTSMOUTH — The Southern Ohio Performing Arts Association in conjunction with Shawnee State University’s Vern Riffe Center for the Arts opens the 2009-10 season with the Grammy Award-winning Doc Severinsen at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 17.

Severinsen, making his third appearance in Portsmouth, has made more than 30 albums, from big band to jazz to classical, and now he is introducing a new genre, Mexican music, Argentine tango, Spanish flamenco and gypsy jazz.

He “retired” to Mexico in 2006 and discovered two new talented musicians, Gil Gutierrez and Pedro Cartas. With the two musicians, Severinsen has created an innovative new sound, “El Ritmo de la Vida” (“The Rhythm of Life”).

Severinsen still has his flair for outrageous fashions and witty banter and he is respected as one of the world’s premier trumpeters and “showbiz” personalities.

He began playing on “The Tonight Show” with Johnny Carson when it first started in 1962 and stayed until the last show in 1992.

The concert is part of the Family Pop Series and it is sponsored by the United States Enrichment Corporation

Tickets are from $28 to $30 for students and $40 to $42 for regular admission.

Seniors are $38 to $40. To find out more about the series or to order tickets, call the McKinley Box Office at (740) 351-3600 or go to the SOPAA Web site at www.vrcfa.org.

Single tickets are not available until Aug. 24. Tickets also can be purchased through www.ticketmaster.com and at Kroger stores.