Paul Shaffer—one of the most famous band leaders and sidekicks in the history of television—will bring his former Late Show band to Thunder Bay for a “once in a lifetime” concert experience. The show will commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium (TBCA) on October 7, 2016, at 7:30 pm.
“We are tremendously ex
cited to have been able to work in partnership with Paul Shaffer to get this special concert booked,” said general manager, Bob Halvorsen. “All members of this band are phenomenal talents who are in very high demand. It wasn’t easy to get them all, but Paul really worked hard to pull it all together and make this a reality.”
Since Late Show with David Letterman’s final episode aired on May 20, 2015, the band hasn’t had many opportunities to play together, especially compared to the daily performances they put together for the show. There are no plans for regular gigs or a tour so, bringing them all together for a single concert at the TBCA really is a unique opportunity for concertgoers—truly a once in a lifetime opportunity.
The event is billed as music, memories and stories, and will feature Shaffer sharing stories and memories of his many superstar musician friends who have performed on the Late Show, followed by the band playing the famous songs that correspond to Shaffer’s memories and stories. There will also be a limited number of VIP tickets available that will include an opportunity to attend a reception with Shaffer and the band.
The concert is presented by the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium Foundation and proudly sponsored by Robin Smith and Associates and Allan Komenda, along with Performance Kia, Tbaytel and the Valhalla Inn. Tickets go on sale Friday, May 13 at 11:30 am and are available online at tbca.com, by phone (684-4444), or in person at the TBCA box office.
About Paul Shaffer
For 33 years Paul Shaffer served as David Letterman’s musical director and sidekick. He began his career in 1972 as musical 
director of the Toronto production of Godspell, played piano in The Magic Show on Broadway in 1974, and then spent the next five years with the original Saturday Night Live where he played keyboards, composed music 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 her Broadway show, in which he also appeared. He served as musical director for the Blues Brothers – John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd – for their double platinum album and national tour. His guest starring television appearances include Ed, The Sopranos, Law & Order:
Criminal Intent, and How I Met Your Mother. Shaffer recently starred with Bill Murray in the Netflix original special A Very Murray Christmas, directed by Sophia Coppola.
In addition to recording his own albums, Coast to Coast (1989) and The World’s Most Dangerous Party (1993), Shaffer recorded with such diverse artists as Diana Ross, Yoko Ono and Robert Plant’s Honeydrippers. He composed the Late Show with David Letterman theme song and with Paul Jabara, wrote the Number One ’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 co-produced an avant-garde jazz album for his mentor, Tsziji Munoz, released on Dreyfus Records.
Shaffer has served as musical director and producer for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony at the Waldorf-Astoria since its inception in 1986. He 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 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 honoured and raised money for victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
“Paul Shaffer’s This Day in Rock,” is a daily interstitial feature nationally syndicated by Envision Radio. His memoir—We’ll Be Here For The Rest of Our Lives —was a best-seller, published in 2009. 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 honour. He lives in the New York area with his wife and two children.
