Paul Allen Wood Shaffer is a Canadian singer, composer, actor, author, comedian, and musician who served as David Letterman's musical director, band leader, and sidekick on the entire run of both Late Night with David Letterman (1982–1993) and Late Show with David Letterman (1993–2015).
Shaffer in 2000
Paul Shaffer and the World's Most Dangerous Band in 1993
David Michael Letterman is an American television host, comedian, writer and producer. He hosted late-night television talk shows for 33 years, beginning with the February 1, 1982, debut of Late Night with David Letterman on NBC and ending with the May 20, 2015, broadcast of Late Show with David Letterman on CBS. In total, Letterman hosted 6,080 episodes of Late Night and Late Show, surpassing his friend and mentor Johnny Carson as the longest-serving late-night talk show host in American television history.
Letterman at the 2016 Peabody Awards
Letterman's comedic career took hold at Los Angeles's Comedy Store
Letterman interviewing comedian Jerry Lewis in 1982
The Ed Sullivan Theater, where Late Show with David Letterman was recorded