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Paul Shaffer. Photo by Kingkongphoto & www.celebrity-photos.com

Top 10 Astonishing Facts about Paul Shaffer

People born post- World War II and specifically during the period between 1946 and 1964 are often collectively defined as The Baby Boomers Generation.

Paul Shaffer, whose birth sign is Sagittarius, was born in 1949 and hence was born in the Baby Boomers Generation of the late 1940s and early 1960s.

Baby Boomers grew up during a time when the world was experiencing unprecedented growth in affluence largely due to government subsidies which were widespread in housing and education after World War II. 

The top 10 astonishing facts about Paul Shaffer are discussed below.

1. Paul Shaffer鈥檚 Real Name Was Paul Allen Wood Shaffer

Paul Shaffer. Photo By Alan Light.

Born on 28^th of November, 1949 on a Monday, Paul Shaffer is Jewish by religion and a white American.

Paul W. Shaffer, Wayne 鈥楩atboy鈥� Ewing and Johnny Carwash are some of the nicknames that his friends gave him. Paul was born in Canada and specifically in Thunder Bay in Ontario.

2. Paul Wears Many Hats In His Long Professional Career

Paul Shaffer and other singers. Photo by Alienmanstk.

Paul is a Canadian singer, actor, composer, author and a multimillion instrumentalist. Paul was a musical director for David Letterman, a band leader and for over 30 years his side kick.

The hit song 鈥�It鈥檚 Raining Men鈥� which was released in 1979 was The Weather Girls hit song which Paul co-wrote and produced. 

3. Sagittarius Is Paul鈥檚 Zodiac Sign

Among the other zodiac signs, Sagittarius, whose dates are November 22- December 21, often gains the reputation of the philosopher. People whose zodiac sign is Sagittarius are said to love exploring and wandering the world, tasting the pleasures of life and have a great ability to focus. 

These people are versatile, open-minded, optimistic, ambitious, lucky and moral.  However, they are said to be gluttonous, lazy, restless, irresponsible and tactless among others.

4. Paul Shaffer Started His Musical Career At Only 16 Years Of Age

Paul started his musical career early in life. While living in his hometown of Fort William, Thunder Bay in Ontario, Paul started playing the piano at only six years of age. His big break came in 1972 when he was hired as a musical director of the Toronto production of 鈥�Godspell鈥� by the composer Stephen Schwarz. 

Paul was again hired to play the piano and compose special musical material in 1975 by Lorne Michaels, another Canadian, while in New York for the original cast of 鈥�Saturday Night Live鈥�. In its fifth season Paul become a featured performer in the televised shows

5. Paul Wrote Many Famous Songs

In the 1980s Paul Shaffer in collaboration with Paul Jabara wrote the famous dance hit 鈥�it鈥檚 raining men鈥�.  This song was performed by Weather Girls and later it was performed by Geri Halliwell.

Geri Halliwell performed the song for Bridget Jones鈥檚 Dairy soundtrack that went on to top the British pop charts in the year 2001. Paul Shaffer went on to compose the theme song 鈥�Late Show鈥� which forms part of his exquisite musical works he is associated with.

6. Paul Has Received Notable And Prestigious Awards

Paul Shaffer and Dan Aykroyd. Photo by cdnmusicdiva.

Throughout his long career, Paul Shaffer has received various notable awards. For his work in the Earl Scruggs and Friends album, Foggy Mountain Breakdown, Paul received his first Grammy award in the Best Country Instrumental category in 2002.

In 2008, Paul received Canada鈥檚 highest civilian honor, the Order of Canada in addition to being awarded a star on Canada鈥檚 Walk of Fame.

7. Paul Has Produced Several Albums

Paul Shaffer and World Dangerous Band Members. Photo by rds323.

In addition to being a singer, comedian, composer and even an actor, Paul has produced several notable albums of his own. In 1989 Paul produced the album named Coast to Coast followed by another album in 1993 called The World鈥檚 Most Dangerous Party.

In 2017, Paul produced another album featuring vocalists such as Shaggy, Dion, Jenny Lewis, Darius Rucker, Bill Murray and the incomparable Valerie Simpson named Paul Shaffer & The World鈥檚 Most Dangerous Band. Published by Random House in 2009 鈥�We鈥檒l Be Here For The Rest of Our Lives鈥� is arguably Paul Shaffer鈥檚 best-selling memoir.

8. Paul Shaffer Has Recorded With Famous Artists As Has Been An Iconic Music Director

Paul Shaffer recorded with some of music industry鈥檚 most famous artists.  One of the artists is Diana Ross the lead singer of the vocal group 鈥�the Supremes鈥� which is best-selling girl groups of all times in the world.

Other notable artists that Paul Shaffer recorded with include Cher, Burt Bacharach, Yoko Ono, John Mayall and Barry Manilow among others. Since its inception in 1986, Paul Shaffer has served as the musical director and producer for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

9. Paul Played a Key Role In Some Of World鈥檚 Most Famous Concerts

Paul Shaffer is known for the 鈥�We Are the World鈥� finale of Live Aid as he led the band that performed the famous song. As a musical director, Paul directed the 1999 Concert of the Century at the White House.

Eric Clapton, B.B. King, Gloria Estefan and 鈥楴 Sync are some of the renowned celebrities who featured in the concert. The concert was intended to benefit public school music programs throughout the United States.  

Paul Shaffer was also the music director for the 鈥�Concert for New York鈥� which aimed at honoring and raising money for the 9/11 terrorist incident victims performed by Paul McCartney. 

In yet another event aimed to honor and raise funds for the 9/11 victims dubbed 鈥�America: A tribute to Heroes鈥� Paul appeared in it together with Faith Hill.

10. Paul Shaffer Has Appeared Both On Television And The Big Screen

Paul has appeared on several television shows such as the little-known CBS sitcom 鈥�A Year at the Top鈥� which featured in 1977 produced by Norman Lear and Don Kirshner. 

He has also starred in other shows such as鈥� Ed鈥�, 鈥淟aw & Order: Criminal Intent鈥�, 鈥淭he Sopranos鈥� and 鈥�How I Met Your Mother鈥� among others.

On Big Screen Movies, Paul appeared on the 鈥�This Is Spinal Tap鈥�, a film directed by Rob Reiner as Artie Fufkin.

Other movies that he has featured in include 鈥�Gilda live鈥� directed by Mike Nichols, 鈥�Scrooged鈥� directed by Bill Murray, 鈥�Look Who’s Talking, Too鈥� in which he acted with John Travolta and in 鈥�Hercules鈥� where he is the voice of the Disney animated feature character Hermes. 

He has also acted in the television series based on the film as the voice of Hermes cartoon character.