The Late Show Band is a band originally founded and led by American musician Jon Batiste as Stay Human. They became the house band for Stephen Colbert's late-night talk show The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on September 8, 2015. When Batiste departed the show on August 12, 2022, Louis Cato became the new bandleader and Stay Human was renamed The Late Show Band, a change that took effect on September 6, 2022.[1]
The Late Show Band | |
|---|---|
 The Late Show Band performing in 2014 as Stay Human | |
| Background information | |
| Also known as | Stay Human |
| Origin | New York City |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 2004–present
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| Members |
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| Past members |
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History
editPrevious Late Show band
editFrom 1993 to 2015, the band formerly known as Paul Shaffer and the World's Most Dangerous Band served as the Late Show's house band under host David Letterman. During Letterman's tenure as host, the band used the name "CBS Orchestra."[2]
Stay Human
editJon Batiste met fellow musicians Joe Saylor and Phil Kuehn in 2004 while attending The Juilliard School. Batiste began performing in New York City in 2005 with Saylor and Kuehn as a trio with Kuehn on bass and Saylor on drums. They were joined by two more musicians: Eddie Barbash on alto saxophone and Ibanda Ruhumbika on tuba. They then became known as Stay Human. In 2013, they released their first full-length album, Social Music, through Razor & Tie along with the single "Express Yourself," co-written and produced with Austin Bis.[3][4]
On June 4, 2015, Stephen Colbert announced on his YouTube channel that Stay Human and its bandleader would be the house band for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Batiste and Stay Human's "stirring" 2014[5] performance of "Express Yourself" on Colbert's previous TV show, The Colbert Report, was the basis for Colbert's decision to name Batiste as bandleader on The Late Show.[6][7] At this time Batiste also invited multi-instrumentalist Louis Cato to join the band.[8]
In February 2016, the band released an album entitled The Late Show EP.[9]
On April 22, 2017, Batiste and Stay Human played for the March for Science rally at the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C. In the mission statement for the March for Science it states, "The March for Science champions robustly funded and publicly communicated science as a pillar of human freedom and prosperity."
During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020–2021, the band was introduced as "Jon Batiste and Stay Home-in", as they recorded their musical segments from home.
On August 12, 2022, Stephen Colbert announced that Jon Batiste was leaving The Late Show to focus on his solo career. The band was renamed The Late Show Band, with Cato promoted to band leader.[1] The change took effect on September 6.[1]
Members
edit- Louis Cato (electric and acoustic guitar, banjo, bass, drums, percussion, trombone, tuba, vocals)[8]
- Joe Saylor (drums, vocals)
- Nêgah Santos (percussion, vocals)[10]
- Louis Fouché (saxophone, vocals)[11]
- Endea Owens (bass, vocals)
- Jon Lampley (trumpet, tuba, vocals)[12][13]
- Corey Bernhard (keyboards)[14]
Former members
edit- Jon Batiste (piano, melodica, vocals) 2015—2022
- Eddie Barbash (alto saxophone) 2015—2016
- Grace Kelly (saxophonist) 2015—2016
- Phil Kuehn (bass) guest
- Maddie Rice (electric and acoustic guitar),[15] 2015—2020, now with the Saturday Night Live Band.
- Ibanda Ruhumbika (tuba, trombone)
- Michael Thurber (bass) 2015—2016
References
edit- ^ a b c Schneider, Michael. "Jon Batiste Exits 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,' Louis Cato Named New Bandleader". Variety. Retrieved August 12, 2022.
- ^ "Paul Shaffer is ready to disband 'Late Night's' CBS Orchestra". Chattanooga Times-Free Press. Associated Press. May 19, 2015. Retrieved May 20, 2015.
- ^ "Jon Batiste and Stay Human Create Social Music on October 15th". Razor & Tie Direct L.L.C. Retrieved September 1, 2015.
- ^ Jurek, Thom. "Social Music — Jon Batiste & Stay Human — Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved September 1, 2015.
- ^ "Jon Batiste and Stay Human – "Express Yourself" (link removed)". Comedy Central. July 30, 2014. Archived from the original on August 20, 2015. Retrieved December 19, 2021.
- ^ Locker, Melissa (June 6, 2015). "Meet Stephen Colbert's New Late Show Bandleader, Jon Batiste". Vanity Fair. Retrieved January 9, 2016.
- ^ Kreps, Daniel (August 26, 2015). "Jon Batiste: How 'Colbert' Visit Became 'Late Show' Job Interview". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 23, 2016.
- ^ a b Small, Mark. "On TV and on the Move: Louis Cato '04". berklee.com. Retrieved January 21, 2017.
- ^ ""The Late Show EP," By Jon Batiste And Stay Human, Is Now Available - CBS.com". CBS. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
- ^ Grant, Damon (July 12, 2018). "Nêgah Santos- Percussionist for Jon Batiste & Stay Human". discussionsinpercussion.com/. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
- ^ London, Jay. "Late Show saxophonist studied physics, chemical engineering". technologyreview.com. MIT Technology Review. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
- ^ Hambach, Eva. "Photographers crowd the pit as horn players of Jon Batiste's..." gettyimages.com. Retrieved February 28, 2017.
- ^ Galli, Steve. "Jon Batiste And Stay Human Rock The New Orleans Jazz Festival". cbs.com. Retrieved February 28, 2017.
- ^ Bernhard, Corey (February 22, 2023). ""Corey Bernhard (@misterweebles) - Instagram photo"". instagram.com. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
- ^ Miller, Chris (September 9, 2015). "Utah guitarist lands spot on Colbert's 'Late Show'". kutv.com. Retrieved July 22, 2016.