Canadian musician Paul Shaffer — best known as David Letterman’s longtime band leader — is coming home with The World’s Most Dangerous Band.
The 67-year-old native of Thunder Bay, Ont. will play two shows in Ontario in support of his band’s new album, which comes out March 17.
The tour includes an April 20 show at Fallsview Casino Resort in Niagara Falls and a May 3 stop at Ottawa’s Centrepointe Theatre.
The aptly-named album, Paul Shaffer & The World’s Most Dangerous Band, features 12 cover songs with guest vocalists like Shaggy, Darius Rucker and Bill Murray.
“The wonderful friends, old and new, who guested on vocals were a dream come true for us,” Shaffer said in a release. “They poured their hearts and souls into our music, and we thank them profusely.”
Shaffer, who started his music career in a 1972 Toronto production of Godspell, was on Late Night with David Letterman from 1982 to 1993 and Late Show with David Letterman from 1993 to 2015. He was backed by a group of veteran session musicians, including bassist Will Lee and guitarist Felicia Collins.
“Getting to record with a band which has played together for several decades was magical,” Shaffer said. “We’re so comfortable playing together, we finish each other’s licks!”
The first single from the upcoming album is “Sorrow,” a ‘60s track by The McCoys that was a hit for David Bowie. It features the vocals of Jenny Lewis.