From Paul Shaffer, lifelong music junkie, hipster, and longtime leader of David Letterman's band, comes a candid, endearing, hilarious, and star-studded memoir of a life in-and love of-show business.How does a kid go from a remote Canadian town at the tip of Lake Superior to the bright lights of Broadway and a gig leading the band on Letterman? This book is Paul Shaffer's answer to that question. From playing seedy strip joints in Toronto, to his first legitimate job out of college-which found him working with future stars (and friends) Gilda Radner, Martin Short, and Eugene Levy-to being first musical director of the nascent Saturday Night Live and helping to form the Blues Brothers, to being onstage every night with Dave and playing with the greatest musicians of our time, Shaffer has lived the ultimate showbiz life. Now, in this hilarious, entertaining, and candid memoir-in which he dishes on everyone from John Belushi and Jerry Lewis to Mel Gibson and Britney Spears-Paul gives us the full behind-the-scenes story of his life, from banging out pop tunes on the piano at the age of twelve to leading the band every night at the Sullivan Theater.
Download and start listening now!
"What a fantastic inside look in the world of celebrities! From his roots in Thunder Bay, Canada to the calling of the neon lights of New York, this was a hoot to read. If you like Paul Shaffer, or if you're an aspiring musician, or if you just like a good story, you have got to read this! "
— Erin (5 out of 5 stars)
" This book was enjoyable, a nice walk down the life of Paul Shaffer. I really liked his retelling of his SNL days (and right before with his Godspell friends in Canada), but I do with there was even more Late Night & Late Show stories. He is a swinging cat with a good life story! "
— Sheryl, 2/20/2014" This book ended up being nothing what I expected! He talked more about his life in the earlier stages than anything. I was expecting small stories about his life on Letterman and stories on the stars he has had encounters with. This was not at all what it was. It was more stories of how he got started and the women he slept with. I would say this book was bad, but it for sure wasn't my taste. "
— Keri, 2/17/2014" The man's instrument should be horn, `cause he sure likes to toot the hell out of it...some interesting anecdotes, nonetheless. "
— Chris, 1/30/2014" Surprisingly entertaining. I was impressed with how much he's seen. "
— Rob, 1/24/2014" Didn't know a lot about Paul Shaffer and found it was an interesting read. I'm sure he could have told more stories but you do have limited time for your audiences. I didn't realize that he was so connected in the music industry! "
— Stephen, 1/20/2014" Paul Shaffer has had a very interesting life in music and this book just scratches the surface. It is chock full of funny stories. All are great and you get the feeling that he kept some of the best out of the book. Very enjoyable. "
— Lew, 1/18/2014" Not a great book, but a fun, easy read about music and show biz. "
— Mike, 1/16/2014" This was a great way to read an autobiography because Mr. Shaffer wrote the entire book as if he was talking personally to the reader. And hearing about all the areas of entertainment he worked in prior to his time with David Letterman I found varied and interesting. "
— Lori, 11/18/2013" Just could not get into it...read about 100 pages or more, but it just seemed to be more of the same - while I could hear his voice in the writing, there was not enough to keep me reading... "
— Knitnosh, 10/22/2013" I have a new appreciation for Paul. You see where his comedic skills were developed at an early age as well as his passion for music. "
— Ben, 9/1/2013" A great showbiz auto-biography. "
— Dennis, 8/24/2013" What a fantastic inside look in the world of celebrities! From his roots in Thunder Bay, Canada to the calling of the neon lights of New York, this was a hoot to read. If you like Paul Shaffer, or if you're an aspiring musician, or if you just like a good story, you have got to read this! "
— Erin, 7/7/2013" Great insight to a great musician. He's had a great life. I loved hearing his anecdotes and glad to hear that his parents supported him in his musical quests. "
— Bgouldmsu, 5/24/2013" NOT AS GOOD AS I HOPED IT WOULD BE. BUT WAS AMAZED AT ALL THE PEOPLE HE HAS MET ETC. "
— Madelyn, 3/1/2013" Paul Shaffer is a living legend. I didn't know that going in, but I'm sure he is now. "
— Miss, 1/7/2013" Great show-biz stories! Paul has led a fascinating life, and it was great to read his take on it. I am tempted to get the audio version just to hear him tell these stories in his own voice! "
— Amy, 12/29/2012" Neat book. Paul tells a good story. The librarian snorted when I took it out (I gather he's not a fan) but I enjoyed the stories. It was like spending time catching up with a friend even though I've never been able to stay up for Letterman. "
— Nora, 9/15/2012" How a rock and roll fanatic from Canada became music director of Saturday Night Live and the David Letterman Show. Lightweight bur fun. "
— Thomas, 7/30/2012" Terrific. Full of show business stories, just the way we like it. "
— Terry, 1/15/2012" Learned how Paul Shaffer accomplished. Typical celebrity biography. Ho Hum. "
— Brenda, 1/9/2012" I really loved this book! My Dad just finished it and loved it too! It's all about Paul and his many moments meeting various music and comedy stars throughout the years. A quick read-it was funny, endearing and I could appreciate the moments where Paul met his musical heroes. "
— Meganatimmons, 1/1/2012" He writes with humor & modesty and tells the insider's version of the last 30 years of music & comedy. "
— Shari, 12/30/2011" Paul Shaffer knows famous people. "
— John, 10/4/2011" Didn't know a lot about Paul Shaffer and found it was an interesting read. I'm sure he could have told more stories but you do have limited time for your audiences. I didn't realize that he was so connected in the music industry! "
— Stephen, 5/8/2011" Neat book. Paul tells a good story. The librarian snorted when I took it out (I gather he's not a fan) but I enjoyed the stories. It was like spending time catching up with a friend even though I've never been able to stay up for Letterman. "
— Nora, 3/1/2011" I've always liked Paul from wathching him on David Letterman, but this book was a little disappointing. It jumped around a lot, and it didn't feel like the individual stories had much depth. "
— Jen, 2/18/2011" Paul Shaffer has had a very interesting life in music and this book just scratches the surface. It is chock full of funny stories. All are great and you get the feeling that he kept some of the best out of the book. Very enjoyable. "
— Lew, 12/19/2010" I really loved this book! My Dad just finished it and loved it too! It's all about Paul and his many moments meeting various music and comedy stars throughout the years. A quick read-it was funny, endearing and I could appreciate the moments where Paul met his musical heroes. "
— Meganatimmons, 11/30/2010" This was a great way to read an autobiography because Mr. Shaffer wrote the entire book as if he was talking personally to the reader. And hearing about all the areas of entertainment he worked in prior to his time with David Letterman I found varied and interesting. "
— Lori, 7/13/2010" Not a great book, but a fun, easy read about music and show biz. "
— Mike, 5/1/2010" Listened to the e-book as read by Paul which was fun b/c he did voices! I love his devotion to Sinatra and the Rat Pack, and his hipster lingo that he uses in homage to them is very fun. Good stories about the Blues Brothers Days, SNL, Gilda Radner, and the Letterman show, of course. "
— Adela, 3/17/2010" A fun and easy read, with loads and loads of show biz anecdotes. Enjoyable if you like Paul Shaffer (and I do). "
— Bill, 3/3/2010" He writes with humor & modesty and tells the insider's version of the last 30 years of music & comedy. "
— Shari, 3/1/2010" I took my time with this book, it's funny and sweet and I didn't want it to end. "
— Bobbi, 2/18/2010" Great insight to a great musician. He's had a great life. I loved hearing his anecdotes and glad to hear that his parents supported him in his musical quests. "
— Bgouldmsu, 2/18/2010Paul Shaffer is a Canadian-American musician, actor, voice actor, author, comedian, and composer who has been David Letterman’s musical director, band leader, and sidekick since 1982.
David Ritz is the author and coauthor of many acclaimed autobiographies of entertainers, including Ray Charles, Etta James, Scott Weiland, Grandmaster Flash, and more. Five of his books have been New York Times bestsellers, and he has won the Gleason Award for Best Music Book of the Year four times.