Wayne Cochran on Letterman, July 6, 1982

Wayne's second and last appearance on the show. He performs "Can't Turn You Loose," chats with Dave, then, in his third segment, sings "Jump No Pews."
Paul Shaffer, "Fi" Magazine, March, 1998:
Fi: Another memorable appearance was Wayne Cochran from '83 or so.
PS: Also a purely spontaneous moment. His plane was pretty late and our rehearsal with him was, if I remember, only ten minutes long. He came in and we were going to do his classic, "Goin' Back to Miami." And he said, "Well, how do y'all do it?" And I said, "I've been waiting to find out how you want to do it." And he said, "Well, actually, I've changed my arrangement to go with the way you guys did it with the Blues Brothers." We did a pretty spontaneous version of it, never really got an ending together. That's when he went out into the audience.
Paul here was conflating Wayne's two appearances: the first, from May 18, was his "Goin' Back to Miami" performance, and it did end properly. (video here: • Wayne Cochran on Lette... ) The second, seen here, was when Wayne went out into the audience.

[@wayneosaur]

It pleases me to no end that anyone who googles my name finds this guy.

[@DooWopKing2011]

I saw Wayne Cochran for the first time at the Roaring 20s Club in Charleston, West Virginia, and was mesmerized ! ! ! Not only was he a force to be reckoned with onstage, he jumped on the bar, threw napkins and swizzle sticks around the club, punched out ceiling squares, grabbed bottles of booze and poured customers drinks...what a showman ! ! ! Dan Hogan (former broadcaster and entertainment reporter)

[@johnharvey5381]

From the songs I've heard, whether he was coked out of his skull or clean and religious, he just fucking KILLS it!!! So much fun to listen to. Thanks for this post!

[@davecarroll8186]

I was there at the 67 Supperclub in Muncie,Indiana with friends when he tossed the chair at that window in 1966. A night I'll never forget it.

[@dbls00]

In 1976, at the Mill Hill Club on Cape Cod, we were the trio in the side lounge. One night, a blonde head of hair appeared behind the bar like the full moon rising. It was Wayne Cochran, who was starting a week's stay in the main room. Unforgettable.

[@tomw.6511]

Wayne was on fire. Paul Shaffer and band were great too -loved the Stax licks! And Larry "Bud" Melman was there!

[@fredgarvin9262]

This man was spectacular. No better word to describe him.

[@houseofsolomon2440]

I wish I could have been his bass player 🙏🏼

[@TrashLefties]

Fun show. This is why Letterman on NBC was great.

[@eggsmann594]

👍 never watched Letterman ever again after he left NBC

[@paulpitt52]

Great performance! This show was aired on my 20th birthday.

[@fiteboss]

It was my 22nd birthday.

[@freel201]

My birthday too.

[@paulpitt52]

@@fiteboss Belated Happy Birthday 🎂

[@paulpitt52]

@@freel201 Belated Happy Birthday 🎂

[@imnotracistbut-9559]

This guy talking about his ministry more important than his entertainment career and he’s happier and more fulfilled in his life. He’d rather be at a revival preaching the word and he’s having so much fun. They broke the mold after you, Wayne.

[@voidofbeeswax]

He can make more money scamming a congregation.

[@imnotracistbut-9559]

@@voidofbeeswax edgy boi

[@palerider2020]

He had 2 callings in life. 1, from his heart = music 2, from his soul, heart, & life force. = jesus.

[@palerider2020]

​@voidofbeeswax He had 2 callings in life Music God You can't get out from mommy's basement to get a sodi pop, you gotta bang on the wall an mommy comes running down. Who's a pretty boi. Who's a pretty boi. . You are 😅😅

[@houseofsolomon2440]

They broke his hairdo mold!

[@readipietro9733]

Saw him 1970 Vegas @ The Casino Theater in the old International after seeing Elvis in the main room---WHAT a night!

[@palerider2020]

A night etched in your mind soul, & heart. You one lucky bastad

[@secondbest2877]

How can you not like this guy??

[@ralphriehl]

Best soul ever, great live entertainer, showman of 2oth century. Does not get any better than Wayne.

[@hammermann5143]

I like the way, he's dancing! So fluently. Amazing. Not necessary to praise his voice! In Germany we would say "Ganz großes Kino"!

[@fredgarvin9262]

That drummer is BADASS!!!

[@dplatt7290]

that's Steve Jordan. he worked with Paul Shaffer in the Blues Brothers and then became Keith Richards's musical partner on his solo albums

[@mysteric70]

Wow! That was incredible.

[@LORRIEVIVALASVEGAS]

God Bless Wayne Cochran! Rest In Peace.❤️🙏🏻🌹😔

[@bradwindhorst7010]

One of a kind.

[@SquirrelMonkeyCom]

Love that man.

[@nitemirror1]

thank god he let him do that last song.

[@charleswinokoor6023]

Not your typical gospel song.

[@dplatt7290]

they broke the mould when they made this guy

[@mitchgawlik1175]

Wayne's tame here but it works great. As a kid seeing him on Johnny Carson's Tonight show I wondered what was with this character. I finally learned.

[@richardfurlott4243]

He is ONE AND ONLY !!!!

[@dazreject]

YES YES YES YES YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS thanks for uploading this Don.

[@RichardHandal301]

Great stuff. Thanks, Don.

[@guymann7614]

I saw Wayne Cochran and the CC riders at the troubadour in West Hollywood! A very exciting band!! RIP Wayne… he just wanted to entertain people…❤

[@taco2947]

He's freaking great!!!

[@americanboy79]

Certified Legend. He did The original “Last Kiss”. That alone certifies his legendary status.

[@cakraft24]

Before J Frank Wilson even???

[@gettingmightycrowded]

@@cakraft24 Yep wrote and recorded it in first 1961, then released two other versions of it before J.Frank Wilson released the version that made the charts.

[@donaldperrotta8514]

Talent and charisma !!!!

[@staunchx]

This is pretty tight.

[@nyronut]

BLUE EYED SOUL AT ITS BEST !

[@custommusic2433]

I think this is when the Letterman show was in its prime, great show here. Will Lee and barefoot 🦶 Hiram Bullock are so good, Hiram took lessons from Jaco who was in Wayne’s band for a while.

[@Simbaibass]

Killer killer band! Hiram had a trio with Jaco in NYC.

[@jopavel]

Hiram Bullock on guitar

[@garygagnon3537]

I was at Marine basic training during this show.

[@jmack3411]

Amazing!

[@attommas]

That's Steve Jordan on drums,Will Lee on bass and Hiram Bullock on guitar.The old 24th Street Band minus Cliff Carter.Paul Shaffer produced them.

[@dongiller]

Paul produced their second album only.

[@tomdadada]

14:00 Thats a christian i can happily co-exist with! Right on, Wayne

[@user-vx5bl9xf2y]

Stage Presence! 👌

[@DavidLee-rx6uo]

This is real

[@JosephAgnello-tf8em]

' GOIN' BACK TO MIAMI ' !!!!!!!!!

[@lordburlap4514]

Whew!!!!!

[@joanl4830]

Looks Good

[@zombeast1976]

Ladies and gentlemen the great James preach!

[@jeromefrisco9438]

I LIVED IN FLORIDA WHEN HE WAS ALIVE AND JUST NOW FIND HIM I 'M BAFFLED AS TO HOW HE IS NOT A HOUSEHOLD NAME?

[@djthrift6244]

That was the sht'!

[@camillelourde4008]

I bet Wayne came up in the Pentecostal church.

[@davanmani556]

I’d convert if he sang like that.

[@Janster59]

Saw him in an Ann Margaret film-had to figure out who he is...

[@LeadAsbestos84]

What happened to the hair?

[@pete1693]

Ubiquitous Unction

[@cedricpeabody265]

Ron Atkinson was great until that racist moment. I didn't know he could sing like that though.