Paul Shaffer

Wood, Paul Allen David Letterman's musical director, band leader, and sidekick for the duration of both Late Night with David Letterman and Late Show with David Letterman was Canadian singer, songwriter, actor, author, comedian, and multi-instrumentalist Shaffer CM. When Stephen Schwartz asked Shaffer to be the musical director for the Toronto production of Godspell, starring Victor Garber, Gilda Radner, Martin Short, Eugene Levy, Dave Thomas, and Andrea Martin, Shaffer accepted. This was the beginning of his musical career. Later, in 1974, he played piano for the Schwartz Broadway production of The Magic Show. From 1975 to 1980, he was a part of the house band on NBC's Saturday Night Live television program.