Saturday Night Live Band
Encyclopedia
The Saturday Night Live Band (also referred to as The Live Band) is the house band of the NBC
television program Saturday Night Live
(SNL).
(1975–1980), Lou Marini
(1975–1983), David Sanborn
(1975), Michael Brecker
, Ray Chew
(1980–1983), Alan Rubin
(1975–1983), Georg Wadenius
(1979–1985), Steve Ferrone
(1985), and Tom "Bones" Malone
, who served as leader of the band from 1981 to 1985. Guitarist Lukasz Gottwald
, the guitarist since 1997, left the band in 2007 and became a producer. In 1991, Christine Ohlman
, otherwise known as the "Beehive Queen" joined the band as their lead vocalist.
, R&B, and some rock musicians and features a strong horn section. They normally play the opening theme music (after the cold opening), musical pieces in between commercial breaks, and the closing theme music. Occasionally, the band will provide the music to a sketch when necessary.
served as the original band leader and musical director from 1975 until 1980, when he was succeeded by jazz musician Kenny Vance
for the 1980–1981 season. During the 1975–1980 period, the band was sometimes referred to as "Howard Shore and his All-Nurse Band". On two occasions, the almost entirely-male band appeared on camera in women's nursing uniforms as they accompanied songs performed by guest hosts (Lily Tomlin
singing "Saint James Infirmary" with the band also performing back-up vocals; and Jill Clayburgh
singing "Sea Cruise"). Original band member Tom Malone
took over leadership duties during executive producer Dick Ebersol
's tenure from 1981 to 1985. Keyboardist Cheryl Hardwick co-directed the band with Hall & Oates
guitarist G. E. Smith
from 1985 until 1995. Upon Smith's departure, longtime band saxophonist Lenny Pickett (who has been a member of the band since 1985) became co-director, then became the sole musical director upon Hardwick's retirement in 2000. Longtime SNL band-member and keyboardist Leon Pendarvis (who has been a member of the band since 1980) was promoted to second musical director.
Sanborn returned to SNL as the show's lead saxophonist for the 1979–80 season, and was featured as a musical guest in the latter half of said season. He returned 7 years later, while Shaffer hosted the show in 1987. Shore, Shaffer, Hardwick, and Smith are also among those band members who appeared in sketches during their tenures.
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
television program Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live is a live American late-night television sketch comedy and variety show developed by Lorne Michaels and Dick Ebersol. The show premiered on NBC on October 11, 1975, under the original title of NBC's Saturday Night.The show's sketches often parody contemporary American culture...
(SNL).
Noteworthy members
It has featured many studio musicians from New York, including Paul ShafferPaul Shaffer
Paul Allen Wood Shaffer, CM is a Canadian musician, actor, voice actor, author, comedian, and composer who has been David Letterman's sidekick since 1982.-Early years:...
(1975–1980), Lou Marini
Lou Marini
Lou Marini, Jr. is an American saxophonist, arranger and composer. He is noted for his work in the jazz, rock, blues and soul music traditions.-Early life and range of musical experience:...
(1975–1983), David Sanborn
David Sanborn
David Sanborn is an American alto saxophonist. Though Sanborn has worked in many genres, his solo recordings typically blend jazz with instrumental pop and R&B. He released his first solo album Taking Off in 1975, but has been playing the saxophone since before he was in high school...
(1975), Michael Brecker
Michael Brecker
Michael Leonard Brecker was an American jazz saxophonist and composer. Acknowledged as "a quiet, gentle musician widely regarded as the most influential tenor saxophonist since John Coltrane," he has been awarded 15 Grammy Awards as both performer and composer and was inducted into Down Beat Jazz...
, Ray Chew
Ray Chew
Ray Chew is an American musician who specializes in keyboards and contemporary and orchestral arranging.Chew was a member of the Saturday Night Live Band from 1980 to 1983...
(1980–1983), Alan Rubin
Alan Rubin
Alan Rubin , also known as Mr. Fabulous, was an American musician. He played trumpet, flugelhorn, and piccolo trumpet....
(1975–1983), Georg Wadenius
Georg Wadenius
Georg "Jojje" Wadenius, born May 4, 1945, in Stockholm, Sweden, is a guitarist, bassist, singer and composer who made a name for himself during the 1970s and 80s as a studio and session guitarist/bassist, as well as releasing a popular series of albums of children's songs in Sweden.After appearing...
(1979–1985), Steve Ferrone
Steve Ferrone
Steven "Steve" Ferrone is a British drummer.He was a member of the Average White Band, and has recorded and performed with numerous other high-profile acts, including Slash, Chaka Khan, Eric Clapton, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and Scritti Politti...
(1985), and Tom "Bones" Malone
Tom Malone (musician)
Tom "Bones" Malone is an American jazz musician. As his nickname implies, he specializes on the trombone, but also plays trumpet, tuba, tenor sax, baritone sax, flutes, piccolo, and other instruments....
, who served as leader of the band from 1981 to 1985. Guitarist Lukasz Gottwald
Dr. Luke
Lukasz Gottwald , better known as Dr. Luke, is an American songwriter, record producer, and remixer. Luke performed with the Saturday Night Live Band for ten seasons until 2007. He has co-written and co-produced a string of commercially successful songs...
, the guitarist since 1997, left the band in 2007 and became a producer. In 1991, Christine Ohlman
Christine Ohlman
Christine Ohlman is a singer, songwriter, guitarist, recording artist, music scholar. Her nickname "The Beehive Queen" refers to her distinctive platinum beehive...
, otherwise known as the "Beehive Queen" joined the band as their lead vocalist.
Role on Saturday Night Live
The band consists of mostly jazzJazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
, R&B, and some rock musicians and features a strong horn section. They normally play the opening theme music (after the cold opening), musical pieces in between commercial breaks, and the closing theme music. Occasionally, the band will provide the music to a sketch when necessary.
Band leaders and musical directors
Howard ShoreHoward Shore
Howard Leslie Shore is a Canadian composer, notable for his film scores. He has composed the scores for over 80 films, most notably the scores for The Lord of the Rings film trilogy, for which he won three Academy Awards. He is also a consistent collaborator with director David Cronenberg,...
served as the original band leader and musical director from 1975 until 1980, when he was succeeded by jazz musician Kenny Vance
Kenny Vance
Kenny Vance is an American singer and music producer who was an original member of Jay and the Americans....
for the 1980–1981 season. During the 1975–1980 period, the band was sometimes referred to as "Howard Shore and his All-Nurse Band". On two occasions, the almost entirely-male band appeared on camera in women's nursing uniforms as they accompanied songs performed by guest hosts (Lily Tomlin
Lily Tomlin
Mary Jean "Lily" Tomlin is an American actress, comedienne, writer, and producer. Tomlin has been a major force in American comedy since the late 1960's when she began a career as a stand up comedian and became a featured performer on television's Laugh-in...
singing "Saint James Infirmary" with the band also performing back-up vocals; and Jill Clayburgh
Jill Clayburgh
Jill Clayburgh was an American actress. She received Academy Award nominations for her roles in An Unmarried Woman and Starting Over.-Personal life:...
singing "Sea Cruise"). Original band member Tom Malone
Tom Malone (musician)
Tom "Bones" Malone is an American jazz musician. As his nickname implies, he specializes on the trombone, but also plays trumpet, tuba, tenor sax, baritone sax, flutes, piccolo, and other instruments....
took over leadership duties during executive producer Dick Ebersol
Dick Ebersol
Duncan "Dick" Ebersol is an American television executive and a senior adviser for . He had previously been the chairman of NBC Sports, producing large scale television events such as the Olympic Games and National Football League broadcasts....
's tenure from 1981 to 1985. Keyboardist Cheryl Hardwick co-directed the band with Hall & Oates
Hall & Oates
Hall & Oates are an American musical duo composed of Daryl Hall and John Oates. They achieved their greatest fame in the late 1970s and early to mid-1980s. Both sing and play instruments. They specialized in a fusion of rock and roll and rhythm and blues styles, which they dubbed "rock and soul."...
guitarist G. E. Smith
G. E. Smith
George Edward "G. E." Smith is an American guitarist. He was the lead guitarist in the band Hall & Oates and the musical director of Saturday Night Live. Smith was lead guitarist of Bob Dylan's touring band from June 7, 1988 to October 19, 1990...
from 1985 until 1995. Upon Smith's departure, longtime band saxophonist Lenny Pickett (who has been a member of the band since 1985) became co-director, then became the sole musical director upon Hardwick's retirement in 2000. Longtime SNL band-member and keyboardist Leon Pendarvis (who has been a member of the band since 1980) was promoted to second musical director.
Sanborn returned to SNL as the show's lead saxophonist for the 1979–80 season, and was featured as a musical guest in the latter half of said season. He returned 7 years later, while Shaffer hosted the show in 1987. Shore, Shaffer, Hardwick, and Smith are also among those band members who appeared in sketches during their tenures.
External links
- Official NBC Website
- Saturday Night Live Band - fan-based website (re-activated as of 5/27/2008).