Word: letterman
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Paul Shaffer is finally stepping out in front. Before landing the gig as David Letterman's bandleader and sidekick on Late Night (now called Late Show) in 1982, the native Canadian navigated a long, winding path to fame: from playing music in Toronto strip clubs to joining the original Saturday Night Live band and cast in the '70s - and along the way co-composing the Weather Girls' hit "It's Raining Men" and starring in a short-lived sitcom. His memoir, We'll Be Here the Rest of Our Lives, is chock-full of tales from the 59-year...
After being on Letterman's show for 27 years, what inspired you to finally sit down and write a memoir? I actually had tried it once, about 10 years ago. I thought I could do it myself, but I ended up having to give the money back. I didn't finish it. Later, I ran into David Ritz, who is my co-author, at a Bon Jovi rehearsal. He had written the Ray Charles biography. So I knew who he was, and he asked if I ever wanted to do a book...
...that for the rest of my life. And basically I am. I think that the title [of the book] is a little philosophical, in that I am basically doing that kind of work. I'm doing a five-night-a-week lounge gig. I just do it for David Letterman...
...think of any really challenging moments when you had to improvise in the middle of a show? Certainly the very first show on Letterman. I couldn't believe that show business was going to be this disorganized. Billy Murray was the main guest. He came by early in the day to talk to the writers about what he might do. And he had this vague idea that he might sing "Let's Get Physical." And then he said he had to go feed his dog and left, and he never came back! There was no rehearsal at all. I didn...
...Letterman has been in the news quite a bit lately. Do you think that will help your book sales? I have no idea. I really...