Staff Favorite Moments: Bassist Will Lee | Letterman

[@thelettermanpodcast]

Our boy Will Lee is a legend! We’ve had him on our show, and look forward to having him on again. These moments of reflection are so special, thanks so much for all the thought and care put into these staff favorite moments!

[@DrVVVinK]

Do you have the inside info on who Will is talking about?

[@JCO2002]

Wow, he's got a hell of a vocal range! Couldn't believe it when he hit that last note in McCarthur's Park. Incredible!

[@graphicbrew]

14:50

[@klapsigaarenbasgitaar1931]

He’s an amazing singer, did studio work even.

[@badad0166]

@@klapsigaarenbasgitaar1931 There's a hundred or more people on Broadway right now that could blow him out of the water. But they're not Will Lee.

[@klapsigaarenbasgitaar1931]

@@badad0166 Well.. I never said he was Enrico Caruso incarnate. I just think he's a great singer, and indeed there are many great singers. Whether you find someone a great singer is very personal though.

[@badad0166]

@@klapsigaarenbasgitaar1931 No, it was a backhanded compliment. I'm saying there are technical singers and spirited singers. Most SNL cast members are only OK technically, but their personality makes it not matter. Same for Will. You know it's not his day job, but you wish the best for him as he sometimes strains on this very challenging song. "Perfect" or "Broadway" singing is sometimes robotic and takes me out, frankly. Except Anna Kendrick. She is both at the same time. ❤

[@kstepko]

Good to know that Will was the vocalist for those theme songs. They were one of my favourite parts of the show!

[@gabrielmcconnor4493]

My favorite part was Dave, but the theme songs were cool too.

[@davewestner]

Jeez, that last note on McArthrur Park......friggin badass. One thing that Will didn't mention about the jumping section of the LNWDL theme is that he would occasionally throw in the "NBC Chimes" melody on those three "bah bah bam". Always love a little musical Easter Egg. And I've probably written this in the comment section of every one of these that the band's been in, but these guys are huge heroes to me. The way they'd back up artists on Late Night as if they'd played the songs 1000 times before always blew me away. I learned a lot about the spirit of music from watching Will, Anton, Paul and and Sid pull it off night after night.

[@porcorosso999]

Absolute legend! Thanks for sharing Will. The band was just as much of a reason to watch the show every night. Can't wait for more of these!

[@carlodave9]

Oh my god! Paul leading that last number gave me the laughing chills. 14:45. That is a man living the life he was meant to live.

[@UniversalExports23]

OMG! I totally forgot about Kamar the Discount Magician!! Those segments were always comedy gold! Thanks for your walk down memory lane Will -- you were the coolest cat in the World's Most Dangerous Band. You still look and sound as great as ever! Thanks Will! ❤

[@nomnomnomJon]

Lol the last Kamar appearance I must have watched when it came on. Still remember to the day how po'd Dave was lol

[@nickstarkey]

Will Lee is my bass playing hero. an absolute master and if he hit that bass slide during a joke, you know it delivered

[@acffh]

ah HUM!

[@Memo2Self]

I met Will Lee one afternoon in NYC sometime in the mid-80s (and I believe he'll remember it). It was a concert on a small boat docked on the Hudson owned by the International Center of Photography. About fifteen people showed up to hear... Etta James. And we were among the fortunate few, years before she was thankfully rediscovered. I always wanted to see Mr. Lee again to share that memory (and she was GREAT). So here I am doing it!

[@mattfoley6082]

I remember watching Will hit that high note on Macarthur Park and being amazed.

[@BravoTangoAviation]

I always loved Will on the show. That whole band was so talented. I played in a band and it took a lot of time to learn a new song and for those guys to learn a song and then play it with the artist who wrote it is just amazing talent. I don't think we'll ever see another band like The World's Most Dangerous Band on TV.

[@andypalumbo7571]

I remember being blown away by the MacArthur Park performance that night.

[@hinthegroove9740]

Unsung heroes, thanks for the smiles. It almost hurts to smile so hard 😊

[@mikeinmaryland]

I couldn’t agree with Will more. I still love the first time Darlene performed that song. That said, I dig the fact Paul and (Dave) but probably mostly Paul, said we’ve got something here. I still get teary when I watch her performances. Ps. I seen the Fab Faux 5 times. Here’s a teary thing for Will. My daughter is 22. A friend asked her and her group. What was your first concert. She said. The Fab Faux when she was 12❤

[@renhoek3851]

That NBC band were amazing. I wish there was a collection of all their bits between adverts!

[@dongiller]

There’s one.

[@dongiller]

@@robertgoerss I can’t provide a link, but I can give you the title: “Green Onions” Selected Performances on Letterman, 1982-90.l There are also a number of full break-music performances here: The Faces Project, Part 1: 1982-1993 And more scattered about this YT channel I read about.

[@DrLumpyDMus]

Thanks Will. It was a blast watching 30 years of your musical career.

[@arthurlevine1840]

I told myself that I wasn't going to allow the Darlene Love snippet to give me chills/goosebumps like the full song versions always do - but I still couldn't control it.

[@peterjdecourcy]

Will Lee…start to finish the coolest MF. Voice of an angel. 😏 Great bass player. Awesome musical stories. This might be my favourite “Staff Favorite Moments” so far! I threw in some Canadian for Paul. I imagine there’s some wild moments in the early years of “The World’s Most Dangerous Band” before the marathon runner took over on guitar and Anton Zip took over on drums. You can even see it in passing in the clips: the guitarist has his foot wrapped…lol.Awesome memories! Thanks, Will!

[@ronsandlin9618]

Fantastic. What an asset to the show.

[@rockturtleneck]

Will is the man, I was hoping he would do one of these. What an incredible blessing to play with so many musical legends and have a better-than-front-row sea to virtually every David Letterman show. And go see his Beatles band the Fab Faux if you get a chance, they are amazing, especially when they do special theme shows like playing the White Album in its entirety.

[@214jef]

Great interview. Loved Will on the show.

[@AkumaAPN]

My Favorite Will Lee moment is when he sang MacArthur('s) Park, with Jimmy Webb joining Paul on the keys, during the final season. Pure magic!

[@lacheraqui]

Will, what a great segment! I remember every one of your choices, including the thrill I got when you made that last MacArthur Park note...and my concern while watching the final NBC show. "What's Francisco doing there?" I wondered. "Where's Will???" You were so fortunate, and deserving, to have had that gig...and they were even luckier to have had you! ❤ xo zan

[@speedfreakjive8843]

Absolute legend. Thanks Will!! You are a true musician's musician.

[@elizabethlarson9655]

I love hearing from the guys in the band.

[@b5maddog]

Awesome stories! Amazing voice!

[@QBAN2010]

Will Lee singing MacArther Park was the high water mark for this show! Sublime! Darlene Love was always special too….

[@amymalina5073]

He’s got a great sense of humor in addition to being such a killer musician

[@byronbrewer33]

Always loved Will on the show. Looking good, buddy! 🎸🎤🎶

[@user-uw6gk5yl6n]

These 'Staff Favorite Moments' are great. Thank you.

[@user-dz6fy6qv2l]

I wish we had a real documentary on the show(s), but this might be better.

[@alfiend331]

Will is a legend and the World's Most Dangerous Band is a personal all-time favorite. So many amazing highlights in this compilation, but my favorite of all has to be every year when Darlene Love would visit and blow the roof off the dump with her next-level, always incredible "Christmas, Baby Please Come Home." Honestly, Christmas isn't the same without Darlene singing this song and Jay Thomas throwing a football at the Christmas meatball.

[@joeski734]

Well that was the best one I've seen. I had no idea how cool and smart Will Lee is. Awesome stuff.

[@hamsandwichson]

Hells yes! Legend Will Lee! I love his playing w Oz Noy and Keith Carlock!

[@hellboypi]

Awesome job, Will!

[@michaelstusiak5902]

Thanks, Will

[@TheMattsterling]

WILL! I met you after a show at NBC in the 90s and meant the world to me. You are the very best and I miss Hiram and the World's Most Dangerous Band!

[@janeltranmer2284]

Well. Thank you, Mr. Lee. I think this is my third time watching this. Fantastic.

[@jfjoubertquebec]

12:20 I agree... that performance chokes me up every time. Superb plain and simple.

[@byamrcn]

Really enjoyed this one. Great to hear from Will.

[@Redmenace96]

How many staff have added, the Fabulous.... the Majestic.... the Hardest Working Man in Show Business... The GodFather of Soul... Soul Brother Number One! I feel, to be in the same room with him was a peak experience- never forgotten.

[@Fakename70]

I always remember the Godfather’s 1985 appearance, which, is when he officially named Letterman as “soul brother #2”.

[@robatsea2009]

Still remember Will knocking out a killer rendition of "Stagger Lee" on the NBC show. Brilliant talent.

[@robclarkson5356]

Magnificent, Will, thank you!

[@kajem575]

The STRONG GUY. Great vocal performance.👍

[@jeffwolinski2659]

What a great human being!!

[@JonathanHudgins]

Very talented man. Thank you Will.

[@DryHeaveSteve]

Those early “Late Night” shows just starting out are the best. No expectations… no limits. Less is more.

[@petterw5318]

Musically the show did AMAZING things.

[@jondeaux336]

WOW!!! I had no idea. I was an avid fan for many years, but clearly missed a ton of episodes. What a funny, talented, guy.

[@frishhawk]

That was great! Thank you for sharing the memories.

[@sandrasmile]

You're awesome Will! ❤

[@stephengiese7549]

Well done! Wonderful recollections! Speaks very well! Missed all of them. Too late for me. Miss Dave alot! Nothing even close today! Thanks for this😅

[@LerockJohn]

Best TV Band ever!

[@ellenwood2167]

This was great!!!

[@revkenwiz]

I follow lee throughout his career, what a great talent. Peace & Love

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

I will never forget Bronson Pinchot walking out to ZZ Top's "Pincushion" ...

[@colinwilliams553]

I miss WILL LEE,the house bass player for the LETTERMAN show.He's always great.

[@mr.spockie1987]

I was hoping Will would do one of these!

[@water.77]

Killer white Wurlitzer piano behind him. Great to see Will looking so young too, what a legend.

[@c.s.mcleod7383]

Crowded House is my all time Letterman musical highlight,"Now We're Getting Somewhere".

[@mzamonster2008]

iconic bassist

[@loranv3435]

❤ ABSOLUTELY AMAZING THANKS FOR SHARING, LUV FROM YOUR FRIENDS IN CANADA 😊😊

[@alan.schertz]

Thanks Will for sharing

[@stereoroid]

Yay! Will is a bass legend, I think I even commented that he’d surely have some great stories to tell.

[@MajorMajor420]

He gave Adam Clayton from U2 bass lessons at one time. Also wrote Bass for Dummies, if you can believe it.

[@nomnomnomJon]

Fantastic selections Will Lee! I wish the music from the world's most dangerous band came out especially with Steve and Hyram!

[@TheJuniorMints]

THANK YOU WILL!🤓❤️

[@patton303]

I’m gonna take a pinch of credit for this because I’ve been begging to hear from Will Lee for years on every thread. Lol. Thank you!

[@toolbuckettim8389]

Wow ! What a great tribute !

[@renegade-zeraus]

Iconic!

[@markread7333]

One of the best parts of being there for the taping of a Late Show was getting to hear the music during commercial breaks. What a tight and talented group! They can (and did) play with anyone in the business. Side note: if you haven’t caught the Fab Faux, I highly recommend doing so).

[@fretfix1]

When I went thay also played a bit before the show...So. Damn. Good.

[@natfunk5992]

I've been singing that Kenny song since the first time it aired and I still do.

[@privatepenguin3137]

Same here! Look out that gardener is here!!!!

[@Eddie-hn5hp]

MAESTRO UNCLE WILL LEE!!

[@graphicbrew]

4:15 Best Will Lee hairstyle of them all. Keep rockin' Will!

[@LuisSancho-v7o]

DAMN, THIS WAS THE SEGMENT I WAS HOPING FOR!!! As a bass player, Mr. Lee is one of my bass legends from when I was a child, even when I did not know what a bass was or who the bass players in my favourite music (1975 to 1978, me being 4 to 8 years old) were. A wonderful segment.

[@pauld.172]

I appreciated the 30 year explanation why Will was at on the last NBC show. It’s wasn't surprising but I am glad to see it was addressed. It’s getting close to that time of the year to watch Dave’s mom on Thanksgiving, Jay Thomas and Darlene Love.

[@kajem575]

Would love to have a compilation of all the on and off air performances.

[@LadyValdezRNCCRN-df5hj]

ICONS FOREVER AND EVER 🏥☦️🇺🇲🏡🪖🗝️

[@elizabeth7563]

Will Lee was always A-MAZING

[@rocketreindeer]

This was epic, thanks.✌🏽

[@cartwright420able]

Loved it when Booker T and the MG's were on and Will played the cow bell

[@ThePhilmaywalt]

Will, I knew most of the material in this, but I had NEVER heard you sing "MacArthur Park", my God what a version that was. I always hated this song until 10 minutes ago and WOW!!! WHAT A VERSION you did..

[@kungfuchemist]

Whew that MacArthur Park was incredible

[@oystertoadfish1149]

Fun fact - Will Lee’s Dad (Dr. Bill Lee? - I think) was a professor at University of Miami…and recruited Pat Metheny with a full scholarship. Within a short amount of time Pat was teaching since his skills were above those teaching.

[@paullarimore8598]

I am a Letterman fan and a Will Lee fan. Remember a segment that highlighted Will's jumping at the beginning of the song. Dave said you could tell how good the show was going to be by how high Will Lee jumps.

[@flight505]

Thank you.

[@ryanellis4474]

What a legendary show What a great musician I love that these are being made I HOPE Don Giller is THE paid staff member in charge of this effort

[@GeoffNelson]

Wow this is a great installment of this

[@JoeVideoed]

I'll always remember him for his performance of "The Strong Guy, the Fat Guy, the Genius".

[@ajn465]

Will is a legendary Studio musician and Hired Gun. To be something like that you need to be a ridiculous player on every level. I'm glad he stayed with the show throughout the Run

[@Tommyr]

LOL! Excellent Will! Well done!

[@curtjunky]

Paul, Will, Sid, Anton: the World's Most Dangerous Band. I miss those guys so much. ❤

[@Fakename70]

Paul, Steve, Hiram and Will was the best lineup.

[@privatepenguin3137]

@@Fakename70 Charlie Drayton also did some time in the band on drums.

[@privatepenguin3137]

@@Fakename70 Steve Jordan can be seen at 4:53 of this video :)

[@rodneybjornstad9016]

Best rendition of MacArthur park I ever heard Will Lee you crushed it Bald guys , fat guys , mocking butcher , making fun of regular guys , poor magicians. Laughing down at people. That That’s why Paul McCartney did not like David’s show. Mean spirited . But I’m a midwesterner. Like David used to be. His shtick is maybe over my simple head.

[@BassistPaul]

MacArthur Park is epic!

[@peerenboom77]

Did Will Lee come up with the bass line for the Bowie song "As the World Falls Down"? It's one my favorite bass lines ever.

[@rogercardenas111]

Mr.Lee amazing bassist. Sodowsky bass,Gallien Krueger bass amps and Hartke bass cabinet.

[@BUNKERJR53]

Will Lee is a phenomenal bass player and I feel is very underrated.

[@lorip.1110]

Where there's Will, there's a way!

[@stevecrozet306]

What a guy!!!!!

[@huflungdung8252]

Will Lee. The wealthiest man in showbuisness.

[@marcrekart9089]

How many bass players can cover all of that musical territory...CBS Orchestra, Buddy's Band , the Brecker Brothers Band, not to many. Will Lee is in a class by himself for sure.

[@MrDuojet]

Funny how Will's favourite moments are similar to those of long-time Letterman fans.

[@dirkevans3443]

I’ll be honest and admit, for the longest time I was like WHO is this guy on Base???!!!! He’s killing it!!! We’ll know I know Will, in short….yer th’ Man!