2024 Phoebe Jacobs Honoree

Paul Shaffer ]is a Canadian singer, keyboardist, composer, actor, author, comedian, and musician who served as David Lettermen’s musical director, band leader, and sidekick on the entire run of Late Night with David Letterman for 32 years. Paul began his music career in 1972 as musical director for the Toronto production of Godspell, He played piano for 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 music 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 Broadway show, for which he also appeared. He served as musical director for the Blues Brothers-Jon Belushi and Dan Aykroyd-for their triple platinum album and national tour. His guest starring appearances include “Law and Order: Criminal Intent”, “Schitt’s Creek”, “How I Met Your Mother”. Paul starred wth Bill Murray in and was musical director for Netflix special “A Very Murray Christmas” for which he received his fourth EMMY nomination.

 

Paul has performed with the Kalamazoo Symphony, the Nebraska Jazz Orchestra as well as appearances with the Long Beach, Vancouver and Winnipeg Symphonies. In addition to recording his own albums, Coast to Coast (1989) and The World’s Most Dangerous Party (1993), Shaffer has recorded with such diverse artists as Diana Ross, Yoko Ono and Robert Plant’s Honeydrippers. He composed the LATE SHOW theme song and a global '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 co-produced an avant-garde jazz album for his mentor, Tsziji Munoz. His latest album, Paul Shaffer & The World's Most Dangerous Band, features such diverse guest vocalists as Valerie Simpson, Darius Rucker, Jenny Lewis, Dion, Shaggy, and Bill Murray. 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." Shaffer 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’s best-selling memoir, We’ll Be Here For The Rest of Our Lives, is published by Random House. His recent television series, “Paul Shaffer Plus One”, on AXS-TV with guests including Joe Walsh, Donald Fagen, Graham Nash, Buddy Guy, and Smokey Robinson. 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 Fox TV extended career overview.