Thursday, July 25, 2024

Saturday Night Live Resident Band

Saturday Night Live has a different host every week and a trending musical act every week.  Saturday Night Live also has  a resident band to announce the host.  Any other time throughout the show, I do not recall.

Academy Award winner, Howard Shore, composed and led the original band.  

Paul Shaffer was next in line to lead the original band.  Paul Shaffer also worked with David Letterman and his band.

- Founding members -
Bob Cranshaw - Bass Guitar (1975 - 1980, d. 2016)
Lew Del Gatto - Baritone Sax (1975 - 1979, 1985 - 2005)
Cheryl Hardwick - Keyboards (1975 - 1980, 1985 - 2000)
*Guest in 2015
Howard Johnson - Bass Sax, Tuba (1975 - 1980, d. 2021)
Bert Jones - Electric Guitar (1975 - 1979)
Tom Malone - Trombone, Trumpet (1976 - 1985)
Lou Marini - Tenor Sax (1975 - 1983)
Alan Rubin - Trumpet (1975 - 1983, d. 2011)
Paul Shaffer - Keyboards (1975 - 1980)
*Guest in 1982 & 2015
Dahaud Shaaad - Drums (1975 - 1977, d. 201
Howard Shore - Alto Sax (1975 - 1980)
Mauricio Smith - Baritone Sax (1975 - 1977, d. 2002)

- Current members -
Leon Pendarvis - Keybards, Musical Director (1980 - Present)
Alex Foster - Alto Sax (1985 - 1980, 1995 - Present)
Lenny Pickett - Tenor Sax, Musical Director (1985 - Present)
Steve Turre - Trombone (1985 - Present)
Christine Ohlman - Vocals (1991 - Present)
Shawn Pelton - Drums (1992 - Present)
Valerie Naranjo - Percussion (1995 - Present)
James Genus - Bass Guitar (2000 - Present)
Ron Blake - Baritone Sax, Flute (2005 - Present)
Tuffus Zimbabwe - Keyboards (2010 - Present)
Maddie Rice - Electric Guitar (2020 - Present)
Summer Camargo - Trumpet (2022 - Present)

- Musical Directors -
Howard Shore (1975 - 1980)
Kenny Vance (1980 - 1981)
Tom Malone (1981 - 1985)
G.E. Smith (1985 - 1995)
Lenny Pickett (1995 - Present)


For every decade Saturday Night Live airs, new generations are ushered in and pop culture is redefined.  Every band announced the guest host from door to stage.  New and established artists performed, tapping into generation after generation.

Every cast produced lasting celebrities.  Every band member is iconic in their own right.

From then to now,

Play it!

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