Paul Shaffer

In our Season 8 premiere, host Ken Womack welcomes legendary musician, band leader, actor and comedian Paul Shaffer! In addition to being David Letterman's musical director and sidekick for 33 years, Shaffer has been a featured performer on "Saturday Night Live," guest star in multiple TV and film productions, and served as musical director and producer for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony since its inception. In this episode, Womack and Shaffer discuss how the Beatles put their own spin on American rock 'n' roll, Shaffer's own career pivot while growing up in Canada, whether guitar groups are on their way out, and if Lorne Michaels or Letterman was the bigger Beatles fan.

Musician, comedian, actor and composer Paul Shaffer was heavily influenced by the musical (and comedy) acts he grew up watching on “The Ed Sullivan Show,” so it was only fitting that we interviewed him in the “Ed Sullivan Room” of the famed New York Friars Club. Not many people can say they worked with James Brown, John Belushi, Sammy Davis, Jr., Jerry Lewis, Brian Wilson, Mickey Rooney AND the infamous Phil Spector, but Paul has — and he shares memorable anecdotes about every one of them. Also, Gilbert and Paul discuss their mutual obsession with a certain Cindy Crawford/Valerie Bertinelli infomercial. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this exclusive podcast-only episode, the Professor of Rock sits down for an unfiltered, full-length conversation with the one and only Paul Shaffer—legendary bandleader, keyboardist, and comedic straight man for David Letterman. From his early days growing up in Canada and discovering his love for music, to becoming a mainstay on late night TV for over three decades, Paul shares hilarious, heartfelt, and behind-the-scenes stories you've never heard before. From SNL to CBS’s Late Show , from jamming with musical legends to accidentally upstaging them, this is Paul Shaffer like you’ve never heard him. It’s a rare glimpse into the mind of a pop culture icon who helped shape the sound of an era. As always, we’re incredibly thankful for you—the listeners—for making it possible to bring these stories to light. Your support keeps the music (and the memories) alive. Happy Thanksgiving from the Professor of Rock. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

In connection with the latest "Fun For All Ages" disco episode, GGACP revisits this 2014 interview with the composer of the disco smash “It’s Raining Men,” musician, conductor and comedian (and friend of the podcast) Paul Shaffer. In this episode recorded in the New York Friars Club's Ed Sullivan Room, Paul talks about being influenced by '60s-era variety shows and working with icons James Brown, John Belushi, Sammy Davis, Jr., Brian Wilson AND the infamous Phil Spector. Also in this episode: Remembering Lou Jacobi! Rickie Layne and Velvel! And Paul shares the screen with Mickey Rooney! PLUS: Gilbert and Paul obsess over a Cindy Crawford-Valerie Bertinelli infomercial! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this special FFR ReWind episode, legendary music director and bandleader Paul Shaffer joins Film Festival Radio for a lively interview in June 2017. Shaffer reflects on his iconic television career and shares his excitement about hitting the road for his very first North American tour, at the time. Paul and the tour stopped in Nashville for a show at the world-famous Ryman Auditorium. He also introduces his then-new album, Paul Shaffer & the World’s Most Dangerous Band . The fun chat gives listeners a glimpse into the vibrant musical journey that shaped both his past and his future endeavors. (Photography by Sandrine Lee from thepaulshaffer.com) www.thepaulshaffer.com #PaulShaffer #DavidLetterman #SNL #LateShowwithDavidLetterman #musicaldirector #worldsmostdangerousband #CBS Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with veteran jazz guitarist and spiritual improviser Tisziji Muñoz . In this revealing conversation, we dive into his prolific career and latest work as a member of The Quantum Blues Quartet on the 2025 album Quantum Blues , featuring longtime friend and famed bandleader Paul Shaffer . Recorded in a single day with no charts or pre-written arrangements , Quantum Blues is a true exercise in musical intuition and collective flow. Tisziji—who has been a powerful creative force since the 1970s—is the one who suggested the formation of this group alongside his wife. Paul Shaffer, who has considered Tisziji a mentor since they met in 1969, brought the ensemble together for this singular session. From his unique guitar voice and spiritual approach to improvisation , to his long-standing influence on major musicians like Shaffer and Pharoah Sanders, Tisziji’s story is one of deep resonance in the jazz world. 🎸 Get the Album : Quantum Blues on Bandcamp For More Famous Interviews: Subscribe via Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgi6GpDDDrc_PgOzaERGbLQ Subscribe via iTunes/Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/famous-interviews-with-joe- dimino/id1660256991 Subscribe via Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7j92QDS13LXgajPt80X2dh The Home of Famous Interviews : http://famousinterviewswithjoedimino.blogspot.com/ Contribute to Famous Interviews via PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=ER Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On the 4/9/25 edition of Dr.Andy’s Poetry and Technology Hour : Eric Paul Shaffer joins the show to discuss his upcoming and recent book publications, Free Speech and Green Leaves . Shaffer recounts his time at the University of California, Davis and discusses his most recent collection, written in two long sequences. Shaffer then praises Coyote Arts Press and reads a poem, “Watch for falling rocks” and two verses that can be sung along to The United States National Anthem. Julia B. Levine is the next guest on the hour, and details her upcoming reading on April 17th at the John Natsoulas Gallery. Levine discusses her various writing projects and her feelings upon being awarded a Pushcart and the 2024 Terrain Poetry Prize. She explains how she writes about death, love, sex, and aging, trying to articulate the unique vulnerabilities each of these domains contain. Levine then shares a poem titled “This American Spring.” Eric Paul Shaffer is author of nine volumes of poetry, most recently Free Speech and Green Leaves , Selected & New Poems , Even Further West , A Million-Dollar Bill ; Lāhaina Noon , and Portable Planet . More than 650 individual poems appear in reviews in the USA, Australia, Canada, England, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, Nicaragua, India, Iran, Scotland, Singapore, and Wales. Shaffer received Hawai‘i’s 2002 Elliot Cades Award for Literature; Ka Palapala Po‘okela Book Awards for Lāhaina Noon (2006) and Even Further West (2019); and 2009 James M. Vaughan Award for Poetry. Shaffer is a retired professor of English and lives on Oʻahu. Julia B. Levine’s poetry has won many awards, including a 2021 Nautilus Award for her fifth poetry collection, Ordinary Psalms , (LSU press, 2021), as well as the 2015 Northern California Book Award in Poetry for her fourth collection, Small Disasters Seen in Sunlight , (LSU, 2014). Recently she has won a 2024 Pushcart Prize in Poetry, the 2024 Terrain Poetry Prize, 2023 Oran Perry Burke Award in Poetry from The Southern Review , as well as a 2022 American Academy of Poetry Poet Laureate Fellowship for her work in building resilience in teenagers related to climate change through poetry, science, and technology. Her work has appeared in many literary journals, including, Ploughshares, The Missouri Review and Prairie Schooner . She received a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from University of California, Berkeley and an MFA in poetry from Pacific University. Her chapbook, Lullaby for the Sixth Extinction , won the Wolfson Poetry Prize and will be published in early fall, 2025. The Poetry Night Reading Series takes place on the first and third Thursdays of the month at 7 PM in the John Natsoulas Gallery. The event is generously supported by the people and poets of the Sacramento Valley, by John Natsoulas, and by Thea and the other members of the staff at the John Natsoulas Gallery. Your host will be Dr. Andy Jones, the poet laureate emeritus of the City of Davis. Find out more about Dr. Andy's Poetry Night Reading Series in Davis, California by visiting http://www.poetryindavis.com . Invite your friends to sign up for the mailing list. To learn more about Dr. Andy’s tiny media fiefdom, subscribe to his weekly newsletter at https://andyjones.substack.com .

Join legendary musician Paul Shaffer, famed as David Letterman’s long-time musical director, as he shares his extraordinary career journey—from his childhood in Thunder Bay to iconic roles on Saturday Night Live and The Blues Brothers. Shaffer sits with host Paul Ollinger and reflects on his early love for music, working alongside comedy greats like Martin Short and Bill Murray, and how rock and roll’s raw simplicity shaped his passion. Packed with nostalgic Hollywood and Broadway stories, this conversation is a must-watch for music and comedy fans alike. 🎵🎭 Get Paul Ollinger's book Here: "Reasonably Happy: Essays on Money, Work and Other Things that Piss Me Off" https://www.amazon.com/Reasonably-Hap ... Read Paul's Substack: https://words.paulollinger.com/ Get full access to Reasonably Happy at words.paulollinger.com/subscribe

On the Saturday June 22, 2024 edition of The Richard Crouse Show, we meet Tamara Podemski. You know her from TV shows and movies like Reservation Dogs, Dance Me Outside, The Rez, Ready or Not, North of 60, Rabbit Fall, Heartland, Cracked, Four Sheets to the Wind and numerous theatre productions, most notably as a member of the Original Canadian Cast of Rent, as well as playing Maureen in the Broadway Company of Rent. Currently she stars, alongside Josh Brolin, on the hir Prime Video sci fi western “Outer Range.” Brolin plays Royal Abbott, a Wyoming rancher who discovers a mysterious black void in his pasture., a hole that can send people to other moments in time. The show combines a “Yellowstone” vibe with the twisty-turny plot of “Lost.” Tamara plays the time-travelling Deputy Sheriff Joy Hawk, the acting sheriff of the county where the show is situated. In this interview we talk about “Outer Range,” why she felt excited but intimidated to take on the role, Broadway musicals, martial arts and much more. Then, did you know "It's Raining Men," the 1982 disco hit by the Weather Girls, is part Canadian? The upbeat song, which was inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, was written by Donna Summer’s songwriter Paul Jabara and the Toronto-born musician and former band leader of Late Show with David Letterman, Paul Shaffer, who joins me from Los Angeles.

Tom and Paul Shaffer go back a long time most notably when they were Blues Brothers. Join Tom and Paul as they have a most entertaining conversation about their decades working together.

Today, legendary musician, actor, author, composer, bandleader, and Grammy Award winner, Paul Shaffer, joins Kenny for an engaging conversation. Together, they delve into Paul's fascinating journey from his early days in Thunder Bay, Ontario, to his iconic role as David Letterman's bandleader and his diverse musical ventures. Throughout the discussion, Paul shares anecdotes about his music introduction, influences like Ray Charles and Billy Preston, and his love for jazz. He also sheds light on the behind-the-scenes responsibilities of a musical director, connecting artists, band members, and the audience. The conversation touches upon the crucial role of drummers like Kenny Aronoff in enhancing performances, emphasizing the balance between sheet music and delivering an organic, high-energy show. It explores how technology has transformed music recording, from live studio sessions to digital age remote recordings, and discusses the impact of reduced budgets on music production. As they delve into the iconic Late Night Show, its theme song's creation, and Paul's versatile musical career, listeners get a glimpse into the heart of music-making and the enduring magic of artists like Paul Shaffer and Kenny Aronoff. Episode Highlights: Some of Paul Shaffer and Kenny Aronoff’s memorable moments on Late Night with Letterman Paul Shaffer’s spontaneity as Letterman’s Musical Director Kenny Aronoff on writing and playing with charts for performances Paul Shaffer and Kenny Aronoff on the true bandleaders The impact of reduced budgets on the way music is recorded Paul Shaffer’s childhood Paul Shaffer’s introduction to music, the piano, and the organ Paul Shaffer and Kenny Aronoff on the genius of Billy Preston Paul Shaffer’s and Kenny Aronoff’s early bands Paul Shaffer’s and Kenny Aronoff’s experiences with members of The Beatles Paul Shaffer’s drumming ability Why Paul Shaffer moved to New York Paul Shaffer’s acting on SNL and in This is Spinal Tap Paul Shaffer’s work on Late Night with David Letterman Paul Shaffer on writing the Late Night with David Letterman theme Paul Shaffer’s hosting experience on Late Night with David Letterman Paul Shaffer’s appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show What a working day was like for Paul Shaffer on Late Night with Letterman The time Paul Shaffer “made broadcast history” Paul Shaffer’s work with others including Tisziji Muñoz and Peter Criss Paul Shaffer’s symphony show Paul Shaffer on finding his life’s purpose When Kenny Aronoff’s twin brother met Paul Shaffer Quotes: "The drummer is the true leader of the band. No matter if you're under the musical director or not, you've got incredible power." "If you think about it, if you're spending 25% of your brain focusing on reading, that's 75% left to be in flow and natural." "I realized that what you're learning in your piano lesson and in the theory, it's applicable to Rock & Roll. And it's all about tension and release." "My dad turned me on to Ray Charles." "Playing the piano and the organ is my favorite. I'm practicing again…I'm getting better." 🌐 Stay connected with Kenny: 🌐 https://kennyaronoff.com/ 📘 https://www.facebook.com/KennyAronoffOfficial 🐦 https://twitter.com/AronoffOFFICIAL 📷 https://www.instagram.com/kennyaronoff/ 🌐 Keep up with Paul Shaffer:

Well everyone, we had to hold off a week for our final summer tour episode because we heard from our good friend, Paul Shaffer, about an upcoming charity event he and Jeff Barry are having for Paul's daughter Victoria and her Pup Culture Rescue, a dog/puppy rescue service out of Los Angeles. We talk of that event coming up Wednesday, September 13th at the Write-off Room at 11502 Ventura Blvd in Studio City, CA called Doo Wah Ditties for Doggies. Jeff Barry will also guest with Paul. Jeff Barry wrote or co-wrote "Chapel of Love", "Leader of the Pack", "Do Wah Diddy Diddy", "Hanky Panky", "Sugar, Sugar", "I Honestly Love You", "Da Doo Ron Ron", and "Be My Baby" to name a few so enough said there". Enjoy this awesome episode and learn some surprising factoids about Mr. Paul Shaffer himself!