We'll Be Here For the Rest of Our Lives: A Swingin' Show-biz Saga

I've been a fan of Paul Shaffer's ever since I first saw him do his Don Kirschner impression on Saturday Night Live, so I was really looking forward to reading this. It's a breezy, funny, sometimes poignant (especially when he writes about people no longer alive, like his parents, Gilda Radner, and John Belushi) memoir that is completely readable, at times, compellingly so.

The chapters are thematic rather than chronological, and he covers his life from his childhood dreams of showbiz and playing the piano at shul (Jewish temple) to becoming David Letterman's band leader and everything in between. This is a very entertaining show business memoir, without the backstabbing and tell all trash that mars so many such books.

It was my first show more Kindle book and I read most of it on the plane while on vacation, the perfect travel book! show less

This audio book narrated by Shaffer himself was a real joy to read. He does all the voices like Dylan and Letterman, and it is great. Also, he comes across a true fan, a music enthusiast and in awe of his idols. This translates into a delightfully giddy series of recollections about The Blues Brothers, Phil Spector, Eric Clapton, Harry Shearer/Spinal Tap, and more.

Paul Shaffer was being interviewed at the 92nd St. Y by Glenn Close last November. He was promoting his book, "We'll Be Here for the Rest of Our Lives: A Swingin' Show-Biz Saga" (co-author, David Ritz). And if knowing (sort of) both participants wasn't enough, I'd picked up an advance copy (nice 8 x 11 size with easy-to-read large print) at the Times, so the event was a must.

I hadn't yet read the book but brought it with me to possibly get signed. The interview was fun. Close kept the atmosphere relaxed and took Shaffer through his early life and career, with a piano onstage to illustrate various songs. At one point, he mentioned his old friend from Canada, Martin Short, and Short himself bounded up to the stage to join the discussion. show more Cool! I felt too shy to get the book signed or talk to Glenn Close again, so just left afterward.

I later read the book. Gilda Radner called Shaffer "the most show business person I know" and he's full of stories about absolutely everyone. One question to Shaffer at the Y had been who he wanted to work with who he hadn't yet worked with. He had a hard time coming up with an answer (I don't remember if he ever did) since he's worked with everyone. If he name-drops, it's because he really does know all of show business. It doesn't come across as obnoxious but makes for a fun read. show less

Paul's been one of the most coo coo nutty marvelous cats in the business, and of course by the business I mean the industry, since the mid 1970's. Hearing how he got there and all that has happened along the way has indeed been a gas.