For 33 years Paul Shaffer served as David Letterman's musical director and sidekick.
Paul began his career in 1972 as musical director of the Toronto production of "God
For 33 years Paul Shaffer served as David Letterman’s musical director and sidekick.
Paul 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 triple platinum album and national tour. His guest starring television appearances include “Ed”, “The Sopranos”, “Law & Order: Criminal Intent”, and “How I Met Your Mother”. Paul recently starred with Bill Murray in and was musical director for the Netflix special “A Very Murray Christmas”, directed by Sofia Coppola, for which he received his fourth EMMY nomination.
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 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, he received his first GRAMMY, Best Country Instrumental, for the Earl Scruggs and Friends album, and coproduced an avant-garde jazz album for his mentor, Tsziji Munoz.
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 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 Summer 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 Paul McCartney’s musical director for “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. Paul’s best-selling memoir, We’ll Be Here For The Rest of Our Lives, is published by Random House, and his latest CD, produced by Richard Gottehrer, will be released in early 2017.
Shaffer holds two honorary doctorate degrees, was inducted into the National Black Sports and Entertainment Hall of Fame, and awarded a star on Canada’s Walk of Fame. In 2008, Paul received the Order of Canada, Canada’s highest civilian honor. He lives in the New York area with his wife and two children
Valerie Simpson
Valerie Simpson is half of the songwriting/ performing/ producing entity formerly known as Ashford and Simpson. Their award winning collaborations began 4 decades ago and she along with her late husband Nick Ashford have penned classic hits such as, “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”, “You’re All I Need to Get By”, “Reach Out and Touch Somebody’s Hand”, “I’m Every Woman”, “Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing”, “Solid”, “Your Precious Love”, “I Don’t Need No Doctor” and “Let’s Go Get Stoned”.
She serves on the board of the ASCAP Foundation where an award has been established to aid struggling songwriters called the Reach Out and Touch Award which honors Nick Ashford. Valerie owns and runs a popular New York Westside Music Club and Restaurant called The Sugar Bar where young writers/singers/musicians have a platform to perform. Valerie’s recently completed a 24 City Xmas Tour with Dave Koz. Her Music is in constant demand and four Ashford & Simpson songs are now featured in the Broadway hit Motown-The Musical, which is touring the country
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