Paul Shaffer

Real Name:
Paul Allen Wood Shaffer
Profile:
Pianist, composer, bandleader and actor, born 28 November 1949 in Thunder Bay, Ontario.
Best known as David Letterman's longtime bandleader, Shaffer has been active as a musical director and pianist since 1972. From 1975 to 1980 he worked on the Saturday Night Live TV show as a keyboardist and composer. During this time he often collaborated with the show's stars on their side projects, like with Gilda Radner and Blues Brothers.

Paul Shaffer has been David Letterman's musical director and sidekick for more than 30 years.

He began his career in 1972 as musical director of the 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," where he played keyboards, composed special musical material and, in 1980, became a featured performer.

In 1977, he took a brief break from the show to star in the CBS comedy series "A Year at the Top," produced by Norman Lear and Don Kirshner. After his return to "Saturday Night Live," he collabo­rated with Gilda Radner on the songs for her Broadway show, in which he also appeared. He served as musical director for the Blues Brothers – John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd – for their double-platinum album and national tour. He has also guest starred in the television series “Ed,” “The Sopranos” and “Law & Order: Criminal Intent.”

In addition to recording his own albums, Coast to Coast (1989) and The World's Most Dangerous Party (1993), Shaffer recorded with such diverse artists as Diana Ross, Yoko Ono and Robert Plant's Honeydrippers. He composed the LATE SHOW theme song and, with Paul Jabara, wrote the #1 '80s dance hit "It's Raining Men," performed by the Weather Girls and re-recorded by Geri Halliwell for the "Bridget Jones's Diary" soundtrack, topping the British pop charts in 2001. In 2002, he received his first GRAMMY® Award, Best Country Instrumental, for the Earl Scruggs and Friends album. He co-produced an avant-garde jazz album for his mentor, Tisziji Muñoz, released on Dreyfus Records.

His feature film roles include Artie Fufkin in Rob Reiner's "This Is Spinal Tap." He also appeared in the Mike Nichols-directed "Gilda Live," the Bill Murray movie "Scrooged," and with John Travolta in "Look Who's Talking Too." He is heard as the voice of Hermes in Disney's animated feature "Hercules" and the television series based on the film. He produced the gold-selling soundtrack for and appeared in "Blues Brothers 2000," and composed original songs for the movie "Strangers with Candy."

Shaffer has served as musical director and producer for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony at the Waldorf-Astoria since its inception in 1986. He led the band for the "We Are the World" finale of Live Aid. Shaffer hosted CBS's 1994 New Year's Eve special from New York's Times Square and was musical director of the closing concert at the 1996 Olympic Games. 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 aid music programs in public schools. He was the musical director of Paul McCartney's "Concert for New York" and appeared with Faith Hill on the "America: A Tribute to Heroes" telethon, both of which honored and raised money for victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

“Paul Shaffer’s This Day in Rock,” is a daily interstitial feature nationally syndicated by Envision Radio. His bestselling memoir, published in October 2009 by Doubleday/Flying Dolphin, a division of Random House, is entitled We’ll Be Here For The Rest of Our Lives.

Shaffer holds two honorary doctorate degrees, was recently inducted into the National Black Sports and Entertainment Hall of Fame and was awarded a star on Canada’s Walk of Fame. In 2008, Shaffer received the Order of Canada, Canada’s highest civilian honor. Currently, he is the National Spokesperson for Epilepsy Canada. He lives in the New York area with his wife and two children.
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Artist

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Albums

NBLP 7068 A Year At The Top — Paul Shaffer Greg* & Paul* Greg* & Paul* - A Year At The Top (Album) Casablanca NBLP 7068 US 1977 Sell This Version
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C2-48288 Coast To Coast — Paul Shaffer Paul Shaffer Coast To Coast (Album) Capitol Records C2-48288 US 1989 Sell This Version
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AM040 Taking You Out There! Live — Paul Shaffer Tisziji Muñoz & Paul Shaffer Tisziji Muñoz & Paul Shaffer - Taking You Out There! Live(2xCD, Album) Anami Music AM040 US 2014 Sell This Version
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none Throwback — Paul Shaffer Kelly Lang Featuring Olivia Newton-John, Paul Shaffer & Lee Greenwood Kelly Lang Featuring Olivia Newton-John, Paul Shaffer & Lee Greenwood - Throwback (Album) Leopard Entertainment none US 2015 Sell This Version
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AM057 The Paradox Of Completion — Paul Shaffer Tisziji Muñoz, Paul Shaffer, Lew Soloff Tisziji Muñoz, Paul Shaffer, Lew Soloff - The Paradox Of Completion(2xCD, Album) Anami Music AM057 US 2015 Sell This Version
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AM064 When Coltrane Calls Session 2: Liberation First — Paul Shaffer Tisziji Muñoz With Paul Shaffer Tisziji Muñoz With Paul Shaffer - When Coltrane Calls Session 2: Liberation First (Album) Anami Music AM064 US 2016 Sell This Version
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Severn CD 0071 The Last Shade Of Blue Before Black — Paul Shaffer Steve Cropper, Lou Marini And The Original Blues Brothers Band* With Eddie Floyd, Joe Louis Walker, Paul Shaffer, Dr. John, Matt Murphy, Joe Morton Steve Cropper, Lou Marini And The Original Blues Brothers Band* With Eddie Floyd, Joe Louis Walker, Paul Shaffer, Dr. John, Matt Murphy, Joe Morton - The Last Shade Of Blue Before Black(CD, Album, Dig) Severn Records Severn CD 0071 US 2017 Sell This Version
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081227941505 Paul Shaffer & The World's Most Dangerous Band — Paul Shaffer Paul Shaffer & The World's Most Dangerous Band Paul Shaffer & The World's Most Dangerous Band - Paul Shaffer & The World's Most Dangerous Band Rhino Records (2) 081227941505 Europe 2017 Sell This Version
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Singles & EPs

NB 893X She's A Rebel — Paul Shaffer Greg* & Paul* Greg* & Paul* - She's A Rebel (Single) Casablanca NB 893X Canada 1977 Sell This Version
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CD 17646 Christmas Selections From Scrooged (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) — Paul Shaffer Natalie Cole / Miles Davis, Larry Carlton, David Sanborn & Paul Shaffer Natalie Cole / Miles Davis, Larry Carlton, David Sanborn & Paul Shaffer - Christmas Selections From Scrooged (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) A&M Records CD 17646 US 1988 Sell This Version
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SP-17657 We Three Kings Of Orient Are — Paul Shaffer Miles Davis, Larry Carlton, David Sanborn & Paul Shaffer Miles Davis, Larry Carlton, David Sanborn & Paul Shaffer - We Three Kings Of Orient Are(12", Promo) A&M Records SP-17657 US 1988 Sell This Version
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DPRO-79830 Late Night — Paul Shaffer Paul Shaffer Late Night (Single) Capitol Records DPRO-79830 US 1989 Sell This Version
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7PRO-79706 When The Radio Is On — Paul Shaffer Paul Shaffer When The Radio Is On (Maxi, Single) Capitol Records 7PRO-79706 US 1989 Sell This Version
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none Alone On Christmas Day — Paul Shaffer Phoenix And Special Guest Bill Murray With Jason Schwartzman, Paul Shaffer & Buster Poindexter Phoenix And Special Guest Bill Murray With Jason Schwartzman, Paul Shaffer & Buster Poindexter - Alone On Christmas Day (Single) Glassnote (2) none US 2015 Sell This Version
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R7 559647 Happy Street — Paul Shaffer Paul Shaffer & The World's Most Dangerous Band Featuring Bill Murray Paul Shaffer & The World's Most Dangerous Band Featuring Bill Murray - Happy Street(7", Single, Ltd) Sire R7 559647 US 2017 Sell This Version
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000 346 Put A Little Love In Your Heart / We Three Kings Of Orient Are — Paul Shaffer Annie Lennox & Al Green / Miles Davis, Larry Carlton, David Sanborn & Paul Shaffer Annie Lennox & Al Green / Miles Davis, Larry Carlton, David Sanborn & Paul Shaffer - Put A Little Love In Your Heart / We Three Kings Of Orient Are(7", Single, Promo) A&M Records 000 346 Argentina Unknown Sell This Version
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Videos

M19360 Fats & Friends — Paul Shaffer Paul Shaffer, Various Paul Shaffer, Various - Fats & Friends(DVD-V, Promo) Time Life M19360 US 2007 Sell This Version