Paul Shaffer on "Late Show with David Letterman"
Paul Shaffer began his career in 1972 as musical director of the Toronto production of "Godspell." Paul Shaffer played piano in "The Magic Show" on Broadway in 1974, then spent the next five years with the original "Saturday Night Live," for which he played keyboards, composed special musical material and, in 1980, became a featured performer.
In 1977, Paul Shaffer 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," Paul Shaffer collaborated with Gilda Radner on the songs for her Broadway show, in which he also appeared. Paul Shaffer served as musical director for the Blues Brothers—John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd—for their double platinum album and national tour.
In addition to recording his own albums, "Coast to Coast" (1989) and "The World's Most Dangerous Party" (1993), Paul Shaffer has recorded with such diverse artists as Diana Ross, Yoko Ono and Robert Plant's Honeydrippers. Paul Shaffer composed the "Late Show with David Letterman" theme song and, with Paul Jabara, wrote the Number One '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, Paul Shaffer received his first Grammy Award, Best Country Instrumental, for the Earl Scruggs and Friends album. Paul Shaffer co-produced an avant-garde jazz album for his mentor, Tsziji Munoz, released on Dreyfus Records.
Paul Shaffer's feature film roles include Artie Fufkin in Rob Reiner's "This Is Spinal Tap." Paul Shaffer also appeared in the Mike Nichols-directed "Gilda Live," the Bill Murray movie "Scrooged," and with John Travolta in "Look Who's Talking Too." Paul Shaffer is heard as the voice of Hermes in Disney's animated feature "Hercules" and the television series based on the film. Paul Shaffer produced the gold-selling soundtrack for and appeared in "Blues Brothers 2000", and composed original songs for the movie "Strangers with Candy."
Paul 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. Paul Shaffer led the band for the "We Are the World" finale of Live Aid. Paul 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. Paul Shaffer 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. Paul Shaffer 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 being nationally syndicated by Envision Radio. "Paul Shaffer's British Invasion," a TV special in tribute to Mike Smith of The Dave Clark Five, was broadcast on PBS as a pledge drive special in 2007.Paul Shaffer's first book, currently untitled, will be published by Flying Dolphin Press / Random House in fall 2009.
Paul Shaffer holds two honorary doctorate degrees, was recently inducted into the National Black Sports and Entertainment Hall of Fame, and was recently awarded a star on Canada's Walk of Fame. Paul Shaffer is currently the National Spokesperson for Epilepsy Canada. Paul Shaffer lives in the New York area with his wife and two children.