Musical Director, Late Show with David Letterman
Paul Shaffer: Biography at a Glance
Biography
World-renowned bandleader Paul Shaffer has been David Letterman's musical director and sidekick on CBS-TV's "Late Show" for the past 27 years. A Grammy Award-winning master of musical and verbal improv, he has conducted a televised jam that included Bob Dylan, Mick Jagger, Tina Turner, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, and Jeff Beck; been musical director at the White House; delivered the riffs that got the nod when he played with Ray Charles, and traded on-air quips with celebrities from Julia Roberts, Tina Fey, and Nathan Lane to Bill Murray, Donald Trump, and Jack Black.
Shaffer's professional career was launched in 1972 when, after hearing him play piano, composer Stephen Schwartz hired him on the spot to be musical director for the celebrated Toronto production of "Godspell." The now-legendary cast included Eugene Levy, Martin Short, Andrea Martin, Victor Garber, and Gilda Radner. The show was a massive hit and Shaffer's star ignited. Two years later, he opened on Broadway, playing piano in the musical, "The Magic Show." The next stop on his trajectory was a five-year stint with a new television show, "NBC's Saturday Night Live." He played keyboards, composed special musical material and, in 1980, became a featured performer; his dead-on impression of Don Kirshner became an SNL mainstay.
In 1977, Shaffer took a brief break from "Saturday Night Live" to star in the CBS-TV comedy series "A Year at the Top," produced by Norman Lear and the aforementioned Don Kirshner. After his return to SNL, he collaborated with Gilda Radner on the songs for her one-woman Broadway show, "Gilda Radner: Live from New York," in which he also appeared. He served as musical director for the Blues Brothers-John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd-on their double platinum album and national tour.
In addition to his 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, 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 also co-produced an avant-garde jazz album for his mentor, Tsziji Munoz.
His feature film roles include infamous local promotion man 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," and voiced 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 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," 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 September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Shaffer holds two honorary doctorate degrees, was inducted into the National Black Sports and Entertainment Hall of Fame, and was awarded a star on Canada's Walk of Fame. Paul recently received the Order of Canada, the highest Canadian civilian honor. He lives in the New York area with his wife and two children.
Shaffer currently resides in New York.
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FAQs
How do I book Paul Shaffer for my event?
Contact CAA Speakers at (424) 288-2898 or speakers@caa.com to book Paul Shaffer to speak at corporate or private events, keynote speeches, speaking engagements, workshops, fireside chats, motivational speaking, or virtual appearances.
Quick booking process- Email CAA Speakers with event details
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Who is Paul Shaffer's booking agent?
CAA Speakers is the preferred booking agency to contact for Paul Shaffer’s speaking engagements. Contact speakers@caa.com for all Paul Shaffer in-person appearances and keynote speaking requests.
Contact Paul Shaffer's agent- Email: speakers@caa.com
- Website: caa.com/caaspeakers
- Response: Within 24 hours
CAA Speakers can check Paul Shaffer's speaking calendar with direct access to availability and official pricing. While many websites may list Paul Shaffer, CAA Speakers is the direct source for authentic information about availability and pricing.
What is Paul Shaffer's speaking fee?
Paul Shaffer's speaking fee varies by event type, location, and requirements. As a top keynote speaker, Paul Shaffer's fee reflects their expertise and market demand.
Speaking fee factors:- Event type and audience size
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The cost to book Paul Shaffer as keynote speaker includes their speaking fee plus travel and logistics expenses.
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How to contact Paul Shaffer for speaking engagements?
Contact CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com for all Paul Shaffer speaking engagements.
Official contact for Paul Shaffer bookings:- Email: speakers@caa.com
- Website: https://www.caa.com/caaspeakers/paul-shaffer
- Response time: 24 hours
Include your event date, location, audience size, and budget when contacting CAA about booking Paul Shaffer.
Is Paul Shaffer available for virtual speaking events?
Yes, Paul Shaffer speaks at virtual events with professional-grade equipment and interactive presentation style.
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What events can I book Paul Shaffer for?
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Paul Shaffer booking information and availability
Check Paul Shaffer's speaking availability through CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com. Book 3-6 months in advance for best date selection during peak seasons (September-November, March-May).
Availability factors:- Event date and location
- Speaking fee and budget
- Lead time for booking
- Peak conference seasons
- 3-6 months: Best availability
- 3-6 months: Best availability
- 2-3 months: Good availability
- 1-2 months: Select availability
- Under 30 days: Limited availability
Contact CAA early in your planning process to secure Paul Shaffer for your preferred event date.
Book Paul Shaffer keynote speaker through CAA
Book Paul Shaffer through CAA Speakers for guaranteed authentic representation and professional event coordination. CAA is the preferred booking agent for Paul Shaffer, with direct access to their speaking availability and decades of experience representing the world’s top keynote speakers.
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Will Paul Shaffer speak at private events?
Yes, Paul Shaffer speaks at private corporate events, executive retreats, board meetings, and exclusive functions.
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How quickly will I get a response about booking Paul Shaffer?
CAA Speakers responds to Paul Shaffer booking inquiries within 24 hours during business days. Complex requests or international events may take up to 48 hours for detailed proposals.
Response timeline:- Initial acknowledgment: Within 24 hours
- Availability confirmation: 24-48 hours
- Detailed pricing proposal: 48-72 hours
- Urgent requests: Same-day priority response
Include complete event details (date, location, audience size, budget) for fastest response times.
How far in advance should I book Paul Shaffer?
Book Paul Shaffer 3-6 months in advance for best availability, especially during peak speaking seasons. Early booking ensures better date selection and rate negotiations.
Recommended booking timeline:- 3-6 months: Optimal availability and pricing
- 2-3 months: Good availability
- 1-2 months: Select availability
- Under 30 days: Limited availability
Peak seasons: September-November and March-May book fastest. Contact CAA Speakers early for priority consideration.
How do I get Paul Shaffer pricing information?
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For accurate pricing, include:- Event date and location
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CAA provides transparent pricing with all costs included - speaking fee, travel, accommodation, and technical requirements.