August 2004

THE CBS ORCHESTRA

ALAN CHEZ
(Trumpet/Flugelhorn, CBS Orchestra, LATE SHOW with DAVID LETTERMAN)

Alan Chez joined the CBS Orchestra on Feb. 3, 1997, after years of sitting in on trumpet and flugelhorn with Paul Shaffer on "Late Night with David Letterman" and the LATE SHOW. Chez started his extensive music career at the age of nine when he joined his father's local drum corps, the Saints. He went on to join the Garfield Cadets and, in 1979, joined forces with Jon Bon Jovi to create the band the Atlantic City Expressway, which played New Jersey shore clubs for five years. Chez still donates his time to drum-corps activity and also conducts brass-music clinics throughout the country. He first met Shaffer and the CBS Orchestra's Will Lee at a club in New York in 1986 and was asked to tour with Shaffer's band. As the World's Most Dangerous Band, they performed at such venues as the Jacksonville Jazz Festival and Summerfest in Wisconsin. Chez has also played with such artists as Tower of Power, the Robert Cray Band, Dave Edmunds, Dion, Graham Parker, Kim Wilson and Bon Jovi. He has performed at such events as the 1989 Presidential Inauguration, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductions, John Lennon's 50th Birthday Celebration, the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games Closing Ceremonies, the Concert of the Century, the Concert for New York and the Very Special Christmas Concert. Chez was born in Jersey City, N.J., on July 7, 1961. He and his wife, Cat, continue to live in New Jersey.

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FELICIA MICHELE COLLINS
(Guitarist, CBS Orchestra, LATE SHOW with DAVID LETTERMAN)

Felicia Michele Collins is the only member of the CBS Orchestra who has performed solely on the LATE SHOW. She joined the CBS Orchestra on Aug. 30, 1993, on its premiere broadcast. Aside from being a versatile guitarist, she is also known for her extraordinary vocal skills. She has recorded with such artists as Madonna, Vonda Shepard, George Clinton and P-Funk, Cyndi Lauper and N'Dea Davenport. She recorded and toured the world many times with singer Al Jarreau as his lead guitarist and featured vocalist. During that time, she took several months off to form OUTLOUD with Nile Rodgers and Philippe Saisse and to record a CD. It was at the close of Cyndi Lauper's Hat Full of Stars tour in the summer of 1993 that Paul Shaffer called to ask Collins if she would be interested in joining the CBS Orchestra. Now, she and her band, Bitchslap, are knocking 'em dead in the New York clubs.

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ANTON FIG
(Percussionist, CBS Orchestra, LATE SHOW with DAVID LETTERMAN)

Anton Fig joined Paul Shaffer in 1986. Aside from playing in the CBS Orchestra and providing drum rolls and rim shots for David Letterman's antics, Fig has also appeared in comedy sketches on the show. Over the years, he has performed and recorded with Bob Dylan, Mick Jagger, Madonna, Kiss, Paul Simon and Booker T. & the MGs. His first solo album, Figments, is available at www.antonfig.com. Fig was born in Cape Town, South Africa, and lives in New York. His birth date is Aug. 8.

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BRUCE KAPLER
(Musician, CBS Orchestra, LATE SHOW with DAVID LETTERMAN)

Bruce Kapler joined the CBS Orchestra on Nov. 1, 1993. He is a musician of many instruments, including soprano sax, alto sax, tenor sax, baritone sax, bass sax, flute, clarinet, recorder, keyboards and percussion, as well as a vocalist. Kapler became affiliated with David Letterman on "Late Night with David Letterman" in 1988 as a musician and arranger. He made more than 30 appearances on the program and was nominated for an Emmy Award in the category of Musical Arranger for "Late Night with David Letterman's Tenth Anniversary" primetime special. Kapler's birth date is July 3.

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WILL LEE
(Bassist, CBS Orchestra, LATE SHOW with DAVID LETTERMAN)

Will Lee holds the distinction of playing with Paul Shaffer, on both "Late Night with David Letterman" and the LATE SHOW, longer than any other member of the CBS Orchestra. Although Lee is proficient on several instruments and often provides backup vocals, his primary instrument is bass. He has toured with Bette Midler, Barry Manilow, Horace Silver and the Brecker Brothers. He has recorded with Mariah Carey, Carly Simon, Steely Dan, Cat Stevens, Michael Bolton, Ringo Starr, Laura Nyro, Spyro Gyra, Gloria Estefan & the Miami Sound Machine, Nancy Wilson, Luther Vandross, Cyndi Lauper, Chaka Khan, James Brown, George Benson, Bette Midler, Barry Manilow, Cher, D'Angelo, Michael Franks, Weather Report, Al Green, the Brecker Brothers, Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand, Diana Ross, David Sanborn, Ricky Martin, Natalie Cole and Gato Barbieri. Lee has performed with three members of the Beatles and travels around the world with his Beatles band, the Fab Faux. Along with LATE SHOW drummer Anton Fig and guitarist Oz Noy, he performs most Mondays at the Bitter End in New York City, and often travels around the globe playing with original "Late Night with David Letterman" guitarist Hiram Bullock and many others. He has released a CD of his own, "OH!," and a jazz album, "BirdHouse," with his father, Bill. Both are now available in North America at CDBaby.com. More on Lee's career can be found on his Web site at Will Lee.com. Lee was born in San Antonio, Texas, on Sept. 8, 1952. He lives in New York.

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TOM "BONES" MALONE
(Musician, CBS Orchestra, LATE SHOW with DAVID LETTERMAN)

Tom "Bones" Malone, who joined the CBS Orchestra on Nov. 1, 1993, plays trombone, trumpet, bass trombone, tenor sax, baritone sax, flute, piccolo and alto flute and has contributed more than 350 arrangements to the LATE SHOW. His feature film credits include "The Blues Brothers," "The Last Waltz" and "Blues Brothers 2000." He played in the original Saturday Night Band on "Saturday Night Live" for 10 years and was its musical director from 1981 to 1985. He has also performed and recorded with James Brown, Frank Zappa, Blood, Sweat & Tears, the Band, Miles Davis and Steve Winwood. As a studio musician, he has been heard on more than 350 records and in more than 3000 radio and television commercials. Malone has also played themes for "CBS This Morning," "Murder, She Wrote" and the 1992 Olympic Winter Games, all on CBS. His solo album, "Soul Bones," features guest appearances by Paul Shaffer and Blues Traveler's John Popper. Malone is originally from Sumrall, Miss., and lives in New York.

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SID McGINNIS
(Guitarist, CBS Orchestra, LATE SHOW with DAVID LETTERMAN)

Sid McGinnis joined "Late Night with David Letterman" in 1984 as guest guitarist of the week and has remained as a permanent guitarist with Letterman ever since. He has toured with Barry Manilow, Peter Gabriel, Carly Simon and Laurie Anderson and recorded with such diverse artists as Dire Straits, Ashford & Simpson, David Lee Roth, Bob Dylan and David Bowie. McGinnis was born in Pittsburgh and lives and rebuilds his guitar amplifiers in the New York area. His birth date is Oct. 6.

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