Paul Shaffer

Early Life and Education

Paul Shaffer was born in Toronto in 1949 and raised in Fort William, which later became part of Thunder Bay, Ontario. His parents, Bernard and Shirley Shaffer, raised him in the Jewish faith and fostered a home filled with music. His father was a lawyer and jazz enthusiast, while his mother had a deep affection for show tunes. A family trip to Las Vegas when Shaffer was 12 years old, where they saw Nat King Cole perform, left a strong impression on him and influenced his decision to pursue performance. He began taking piano lessons as a child and during his teenage years in Thunder Bay played the organ in a local band called the Fabulous Fugitives. Later, he performed with the Flash Landing Band at various venues in Edmonton and the interior of British Columbia. Shaffer enrolled at the University of Toronto, where he balanced his academic studies with playing in bands alongside jazz guitarist Tisziji Muñoz in local bars, further developing an interest in musical theatre. He graduated in 1971 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology. His first screen credit was a small role playing an organ at an outdoor wedding in the 1971 IMAX documentary North of Superior, which was filmed in northern Ontario.

Broadway Beginnings and Saturday Night Live Tenure

Paul Shaffer's professional career launched in 1972 when composer Stephen Schwartz hired him as musical director for the Toronto production of Godspell. That production featured a remarkable cast including Victor Garber, Gilda Radner, Martin Short, Eugene Levy, Dave Thomas, and Andrea Martin. In 1974, Schwartz again hired Shaffer to play piano for his Broadway production, The Magic Show. Shaffer's move to television came in 1975 when he became a founding member of the house band for NBC's new program Saturday Night Live, a position he held until 1980, apart from a brief departure in 1977. On SNL, Shaffer's role expanded beyond the music. He became a frequent participant in sketches, most memorably as the accompanist for Bill Murray's recurring character Nick the Lounge Singer and in an impression of music promoter Don Kirshner. He also recorded synthesizer for Cindy Bullens's 1978 album Desire Wire. His off-screen collaborations with the cast were significant, particularly his work as musical director for John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd's Blues Brothers projects, though he was removed from their 1980 film after a dispute with Belushi over his concurrent work on Gilda Radner's album.

In 1977, Shaffer left SNL temporarily to co-star with Greg Evigan in the CBS sitcom A Year at the Top, playing a musician who moves to Hollywood and is tempted by a promoter played by Gabriel Dell. The series was cancelled after a few episodes, though a soundtrack album was released. Shaffer returned to SNL for the 1977-78 season and was officially listed as a featured player in the cast during the 1979-80 season, a unique distinction for a band member. In the spring of 1980, during a medieval musical sketch parodying The Troggs Tapes, Shaffer accidentally said "fuck" on live television, a slip that was not caught by censors and remained in reruns for years. At the season's end, Shaffer departed SNL along with producer Lorne Michaels and most of the original cast and writers, having spent five years on the program. He later stated he declined an offer from incoming producer Jean Doumanian to become the new musical director, feeling that five years was sufficient and not wanting to start over with a new cast.

Musical Director for David Letterman

Paul Shaffer's association with David Letterman began in 1982 when he was named musical director for the new NBC program Late Night with David Letterman. He led the show's band, dubbed "The World's Most Dangerous Band," and composed its theme music. When Letterman moved his program to CBS in 1993, Shaffer followed, leading the newly named CBS Orchestra on the Late Show with David Letterman until the host's retirement in 2015. Letterman often joked that the network switch was due to NBC catching Shaffer stealing pens or other trivial offences. Shaffer served as guest host on four occasions: February 9 and 11, 2000, during Letterman's recovery from quintuple bypass heart surgery. March 24, 2003, when Letterman had shingles. And January 19, 2005, when Letterman was accepting an award for his racing team's Indianapolis 500 victory. After the Late Show ended, Shaffer continued his creative partnership with Letterman by writing and performing all the bridging music for the Netflix interview series My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman, which premiered in 2018. For that score, Shaffer drew inspiration from the southern soul sound of Alabama's Muscle Shoals Sound Studio, a style he knew Letterman appreciated, and ultimately used only piano and organ to create an intimate feel.

Television Appearances and Hosting Roles

Beyond his work with Letterman, Paul Shaffer has maintained a consistent presence across television and radio. In 2001, he hosted 13 episodes of the VH1 game show Cover Wars, which featured cover bands competing before celebrity judges like Kevin Bacon and Cyndi Lauper. He ended each episode by saying, "Just because you're in a cover band, it doesn't mean you're not a star. He served as musical director for major televised events including the 1996 Summer Olympics closing ceremony in Atlanta, The Concert for New York City in 2001, and the 12-12-12: The Concert for Sandy Relief in 2012. In 2002, he hosted the controversial Friars Club Roast of Chevy Chase on Comedy Central, where the insults were so harsh he reportedly had to console Chase afterwards. Shaffer's cameo appearances include a 2008 episode of Law & Order: Criminal Intent, a 2013 episode of How I Met Your Mother titled "P.S. I Love You" where the letters referred to his character, and a 2018 Christmas episode of Schitt's Creek where he played piano and reunited with Eugene Levy. He was the musical director for the 2015 Netflix special A Very Murray Christmas starring Bill Murray. Since 2019, he has hosted the monthly interview program Paul Shaffer Plus One on SiriusXM and AXS TV, speaking with artists like Sammy Hagar and Donald Fagen. He also competes on the second season of The Masked Singer as the "Skeleton" and produces the daily 60-second radio feature "Paul Shaffer's Day in Rock," which first aired on New York's WAXQ-FM in 2007.

Recording Career and Musical Collaborations

Paul Shaffer's work as a session musician and recording artist demonstrates his wide-ranging musical aptitude. In 1982, he used an Oberheim OB-Xa synthesizer to emulate a 1960s organ sound for the solo on Scandal's hit "Goodbye to You." That same year, he co-wrote the song "It's Raining Men" with Paul Jabara. It became a number one US dance hit for The Weather Girls in 1984 and a UK number one for Geri Halliwell in 2001. In 1984, he played keyboards on The Honeydrippers: Volume One, the sole studio album by Robert Plant's group, which featured the hit single "Sea of Love" that reached number one on Billboard's adult contemporary chart. Shaffer has released three solo albums: Coast to Coast in 1989, The World's Most Dangerous Party in 1993, and Paul Shaffer & The World's Most Dangerous Band in 2017. His recording credits span an extraordinary list of artists from diverse genres.

• Pop and rock artists: Diana Ross, Cher, Barry Manilow, Cyndi Lauper, Chicago, Brian Wilson, and Ronnie Wood.
• Blues and R&B figures: B.B. King, Blues Traveler, Warren Zevon, and Fats Domino.
• Jazz musicians: Miles Davis, Lew Soloff, and Lou Marini.
• Funk and avant-garde artists: George Clinton, Bootsy Collins, and Yoko Ono.
• Country and bluegrass: Asleep at the Wheel and Earl Scruggs.

Since its inception in 1986, Shaffer has held the role of musical director and producer for the annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony. He performed the Chuck Berry song "Roll Over Beethoven" with his band for the 1992 film Beethoven. In recent years, he has reunited with The World's Most Dangerous Band for tours and television appearances, including on Jimmy Kimmel Live and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert in 2017. In 2023, the band served as the house band for an episode of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and returned for a week in February 2025 when the regular band was rehearsing for Saturday Night Live's 50th anniversary special.

Film Appearances and Documentaries

Paul Shaffer has appeared in a variety of film roles, often portraying music industry personalities. His most famous film role is as the sycophantic record promoter Artie Fufkin of Polymer Records in Rob Reiner's 1984 mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap, a role he reprised in the 2025 sequel Spinal Tap II: The End Continues. He appeared in the 1998 sequel Blues Brothers 2000. He played a passenger in John Travolta's taxicab in the 1990 comedy Look Who's Talking Too. He also appeared in Greg Zola's documentary about musician Sly Stone, Small Talk About Sly, completed prior to 2017. Dramatizations of his life and career include his portrayal by actor Aaron Lustig in the 1996 HBO telefilm The Late Shift, about the late-night talk show wars, and by Paul Rust in the 2024 film Saturday Night, which focused on the early years of SNL.

Charity Work and Advocacy

Paul Shaffer has dedicated considerable time to charitable causes and advocacy. Since 2002, he has served as the national spokesperson for Epilepsy Canada. In 2005, he and musician Steven Van Zandt organized a benefit concert for Mike Smith, the former keyboardist for The Dave Clark Five, after Smith suffered a paralysing fall at his home in Spain. Shaffer has cited Smith as an early musical influence. That same year, Shaffer made a significant donation to Lakehead University in Thunder Bay to dedicate the fifth-floor ATAC boardroom in honour of his father, Bernard Shaffer, an inaugural member of the university's board of governors. Shaffer has performed in numerous benefit concerts, including The Concert for New York City in 2001, where he accompanied Adam Sandler's "Opera Man" sketch, and the 12-12-12: The Concert for Sandy Relief in 2012. He is also a member of the Canadian charity Artists Against Racism, using his platform to support anti-racism initiatives.

Honours and Recognition

Paul Shaffer's contributions to music and entertainment have been recognized with numerous honours. In 2002, he was inducted into the National Black Sports and Entertainment Hall of Fame for his role in creating opportunities for African-Americans in the entertainment industry. That same year, his hometown of Thunder Bay renamed the street surrounding the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium as Paul Shaffer Drive. In 2006, he received a star on Canada's Walk of Fame in Toronto. The following year, in 2007, he was appointed as an Officer of the Order of Canada, one of the country's highest civilian honours. In May 2015, the Ride of Fame organization in New York City honoured Shaffer with a dedicated double-decker sightseeing bus, commemorating his long run as bandleader on the Late Show. Shaffer has also been awarded honorary doctorate degrees from several institutions, including one from Lakehead University in Thunder Bay.

Personal Life, Memoir, and Recent Activities

Paul Shaffer married Cathy Vasapoli, a former talent booker for ABC's Good Morning America, in 1990. The couple has two children: a daughter named Victoria and a son named William. The family resides in New York City. On October 6, 2009, Shaffer published a memoir co-written with author David Ritz titled We'll Be Here for the Rest of Our Lives: A Swingin' Show-biz Saga, which chronicles his life and career from his Canadian childhood to his years in television. He promoted the book with an appearance on The Late Show that same day. Shaffer remains active in performance and production. He continues to host Paul Shaffer Plus One and tour with his band. In 2023, he and his band performed on The Tonight Show and he revisited the former Late Night studio to perform with Kelly Clarkson. As of 2026, he has scheduled live performances, including a concert at Housing Works in New York City on June 10, 2026. He maintains an official Instagram account and continues his role as musical director for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductions.

Questions about Paul Shaffer

Did Paul Shaffer write any famous songs?

Yes, Paul Shaffer co-wrote the international disco hit "It's Raining Men" with songwriter Paul Jabara. The song was first recorded by The Weather Girls and reached number one on the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart in 1982. It became a number two hit in the United Kingdom in 1984. The song saw a major resurgence in 2001 when a cover version by former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell topped the UK Singles Chart.

Was Paul Shaffer on Saturday Night Live?

Yes, Paul Shaffer was an original member of the Saturday Night Live house band, joining at the show's launch in October 1975 and remaining until the end of the 1979-80 season. He played keyboards, composed music for sketches, and performed in comedy segments, most notably as the pianist for Bill Murray's lounge singer. He was officially credited as a featured player during his final season. He returned for special appearances, including the show's 40th-anniversary special in February 2015.

What awards and honours has Paul Shaffer received?

Paul Shaffer has received several high-profile honours. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2007. He received a star on Canada's Walk of Fame in Toronto in 2006. He was inducted into the National Black Sports and Entertainment Hall of Fame in 2002. He has also been awarded honorary doctorate degrees from institutions including Lakehead University. In New York City, the Ride of Fame honoured him with a dedicated tour bus in 2015.

Is Paul Shaffer still performing?

Yes, Paul Shaffer continues to perform and work extensively. He tours with his group, The World's Most Dangerous Band, and makes regular television appearances. He hosts the interview series Paul Shaffer Plus One on SiriusXM and AXS TV. He is scheduled to perform a concert in New York City on June 10, 2026. He also maintains his long-standing role as the musical director and producer for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremonies.

What is Paul Shaffer best known for?

Paul Shaffer is best known for serving as David Letterman's musical director, bandleader, and sidekick on his late night talk shows for 33 years. He led The World's Most Dangerous Band on Late Night with David Letterman from 1982 to 1993 and the CBS Orchestra on the Late Show with David Letterman from 1993 to 2015. He composed the theme song for Late Night and guest hosted the Late Show four times when Letterman was unavailable. His career with Letterman began in 1982 and defined his public persona, making him a staple of American late night television. After the Late Show ended, he continued to collaborate with Letterman, providing music for his Netflix interview series starting in 2018.

Where is Paul Shaffer from in Canada?

Paul Shaffer is from Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. He was born in Toronto in 1949 but was raised in Fort William, which is now part of Thunder Bay. He was raised in the Jewish faith and his early life in northwestern Ontario significantly influenced him. A street surrounding the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium was renamed Paul Shaffer Drive in 2002 in his honour. He later attended the University of Toronto, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in sociology in 1971 before beginning his professional music career in the city.

Sources and further reading

• Paul Shaffer (Wikipedia)
• Paul Shaffer | Biography | Research Starters | EBSCOhost (ebsco.com)

Checked by the Yadude Books desk. Last updated 2026-10-30.