He could never have handled the Pensky file.
Posted on 05/08/2015 8:24:50 AM PDT by beaversmom
NEW YORK – Hidden in the attention being paid to David Letterman leading to his May 20 retirement is the knowledge that it will also mean the end of a regular television role for America's bandleader, Paul Shaffer.
The gravel-voiced sidekick, who's 65, isn't ready to leave show business even with the gig of a lifetime coming to a close after 33 years.
"Of course, I had the old mixed feelings, sadness, etcetera," Shaffer said during an interview in his office behind the Ed Sullivan Theater. "Now I have come around to just being absolutely thankful for such a wonderful run, such a long run, working for a guy who has been nothing but encouraging to me."
Shaffer is a walking trivia answer of show biz credits: bandleader for the original "Saturday Night Live" troupe, same role for the Blues Brothers, part composer of the 1980s hit "It's Raining Men" and the "Late Show" theme, cringe-worthy record executive Artie Fufkin in "This is Spinal Tap" and music director for the annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductions. If he hadn't neglected to return Jerry Seinfeld's call, you may have known him as George Costanza, too.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
“Dorkiest looking late-night bandleader ever!”
lol...he is a funny looking guy. He cracks me up banging away at the piano.
I’m sorry. I thought you were talking about Foggy Mountain Breakdown. :) But the Sea of Love is a good one, too, that I had forgotten about. I see that Brian Setzer was a part of that. I always enjoyed the Stray Cats in the 80s.
He was on Jeopardy and made Wolf Blitzer look positively brilliant.
The great Donald “Duck” Dunn on bass and the incomparable Steve Cropper on geetar.
Cropper was the “Steve” Jake Elwood called out on BB’s cover of “Soul Man” (”play it, Steve”).
Cropper & Dunn were a part of “Booker-T and the MGs” and their hits included the groovey “Green Onions”.
I loathe letterman, but Paul Schaeffer is an amazing “musician’s musician”.
What? Peter Gabriel on Letterman is the best! Along with orchestra.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWdrtR8qXYs
Thanks! Gonna watch. PG is a fave!
lol! I do remember him on SNL and that skit in particular.
Not a fan of Letterman (he’s a leftard twit).
But Schafer and his band are top notch musicians with a whole mess o’ talent.
Wow! Solsbury Hill. I love that one. Sounds wonderful with the orchestra! Going on my YT playlist. Peter Gabriel is a great talent.
God bless you, Doc Severinson, wherever you are.
M4L
That was really great!! Thanks so much for linking that.
I liked them better as the World’s Most Dangerous Band in the NBC days. You could always tell which musical guests were Paul’s idea and which came from the network.
This reminds me of a really funny skit, I don’t even remember what show it was on, could have been Saturday Night Live. It was a scene from a party at a Don Kirshner show - hysterical conversation - Dolly Parton to Bob Marley - “oooh, who does your hair?” “I just love your reggie music!”
i was pleasantly surprised to see a clip of Pat Metheny with Gary Burton playing with Will Lee on an old Letterman show from around 1990.
He could never have handled the Pensky file.
#38
lol...I’ll have to look up the reference. :)
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