Best known as David Letterman’s long-time sidekick, Paul Shaffer began his career in 1972 as musical director of a Toronto production of Godspell. He played piano in The Magic Show on Broadway in 1974, then spent the next five years with the original Saturday Night Live, playing keyboards, composing and, in 1980, becoming a featured performer. Shaffer served as musical director for John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd, performing as the Blues Brothers, for two albums and their national tour.
In addition to recording his albums, Coast to Coast (1989), two cuts from which were nominated for Grammys, and The World’s Most Dangerous Party (1993), Shaffer has recorded with artists including Diana Ross, Yoko Ono and Robert Plant’s Honeydrippers. He composed the Late Show theme song and, with Paul Jabara, wrote the number one ’80s dance hit “It’s Raining Men,” performed by the Weather Girls.
Shaffer has served as musical director and producer for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony since its inception in 1986. He appeared with the Blues Brothers at the 1996 Super Bowl halftime show and was musical director of the 1999 Concert of the Century at the White House, featuring Eric Clapton, B. B. King, Gloria Estefan, ‘N Sync and others, to support music programs in public schools.
