Page "Paul Shaffer" Paragraph 5

Since 1982, Shaffer has served as musical director for David Letterman's late night talk shows: as leader of " The World's Most Dangerous Band " for Late Night with David Letterman ( 1982 – 1993 ) on NBC, for which he also composed the theme song, and as leader of the CBS Orchestra for the Late Show with David Letterman ( 1993 – present ) on CBS.

Letterman consistently maintains that the show's switch to CBS was because NBC " fired Paul for stealing pens " or some other facetious reason.

Shaffer has also guest-hosted the show a few times when Letterman was unavailable, including during Letterman's January 2000 medical leave for quintuple heart bypass surgery, and during the birth of Letterman's son Harry in November 2003.