Piano Legends - Paul Shaffer

With the approaching end of the long running Late Night with David Letterman, this week we salute his long-time band leader, Paul Shaffer.

Shaffer rose to prominence as a member of the house band on Saturday Night Live in its heyday during the late 70s. When members John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd began their Blues Brothers project, Paul was tapped as music director.

Beginning in 1982, he was the musical director for David Letterman's various late night talk shows, fronting both "The World's Most Dangerous Band" and the CBS Orchestra.

Shaffer has also been the music director for every induction ceremony of the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame since its inception in 1986.

It seems like every time a benefit, celebration or high profile music event was put together, Paul Shaffer was at the helm of the house band.

And as if his band-leading skills weren't enough, he also co-wrote the smash hit IT'S RAINING MEN, to the chagrin of dueling piano players nationwide.

#legends #paulshaffer #davidletterman #itsrainingmen #bluesbrothers #snl #saturdaynightlive