| CBS Orchestra | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | The World's Most Dangerous Band |
| Origin | New York City |
| Years active | 1982–present |
| Members | |
| Paul Shaffer Anton Fig Felicia Collins Sid McGinnis Will Lee Tom Malone Al Cheznovitz Bruce Kapler |
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| Past members | |
| Steve Jordan Hiram Bullock Bernie Worrell |
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The CBS Orchestra is the house band, led by Paul Shaffer, that plays for David Letterman's CBS late-night talk show, Late Show with David Letterman. Minus its horn section, it was previously known as The World's Most Dangerous Band (WMDB) from 1982 to 1993, during the group's tenure as the house band for NBC's Late Night with David Letterman.
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Shaffer and trombonist Tom Malone first worked together in 1975, as original members of the Saturday Night Live Band; they also helped organize the original Blues Brothers in 1978.[1] Malone joined the band in November 1993. Shaffer met bassist Will Lee at a recording session for Paul Jabara in 1976; the two became founding members of the WMDB in 1982. Shaffer met guitarist Sid McGinnis in 1978; McGinnis became a permanent member of the band in 1984. Shaffer and drummer Anton Fig first played together at a Joan Armatrading recording session in March 1980; six years later he joined the band.[1]
In 1986, at a Benny Harrison and the Spyders performance at New York City's China Club, Shaffer first heard saxophonist Bruce Kapler and trumpeter Alan Chesnovitz. Kapler and Chesnovitz occasionally sat in with the WMDB starting in 1988; Kapler joined the CBS Orchestra in November 1993, and Chesnovitz followed in February 1997.[1]
Guitarist Felicia Collins first performed with Will Lee in 1985 when they backed the Thompson Twins at Live Aid in Philadelphia. Two years later, she and Shaffer first performed together, at a benefit concert for homeless children, hosted by Paul Simon.[1]
When Shaffer was unavailable, Warren Zevon was usually the substitute bandleader prior to Zevon's death in 2003. David Sanborn on saxophone was an occasional guest member of the band during its NBC days.
For the April 6, 2001, show, the band expanded to 50 players to become the CBS Giant Orchestra with 16 violins, 8 violas, 4 celli, 3 trumpets, 2 trombones, 1 bass trombone, 4 saxophones, 2 harps, 1 keyboard, and 1 percussionist.[2]
On the June 15, 2010 episode, legendary bassist Larry Graham of Sly and The Family Stone and Graham Central Station was a guest of the band, playing bass and providing vocals.
Drummer Shawn Pelton of the Saturday Night Live Band on Saturday Night Live sits in on the drums when regular drummer Anton Fig is absent.
The group was forced to rename itself when NBC claimed that the name "The World's Most Dangerous Band," named after professional wrestler Dick the Bruiser, was its intellectual property. The current name alludes to the NBC Orchestra, which was the house band for The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.
The band has no direct relationship to any former CBS Orchestras heard on the CBS Radio Network, and is not featured on CBS programming outside of The Late Show.
Besides being the house band for The Late Show, the group has also been the house band for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremonies since 1986. In 1999, the group was the back-up band for the Concert of the Century at the White House, In 2001, they also served as the backup band for The Concert for New York City where they performed with David Bowie, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, Eric Clapton and Buddy Guy, Macy Gray, and James Taylor.
The band has released two CDs:[1]
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