Saturday Night Live Band Explained

Saturday Night Live Band
Origin:	New York City, U.S.
Years Active:	1975–present
Past Members:	See below

The Saturday Night Live Band (referred to in the closing credits as The Live Band) is the house band of the NBC television program Saturday Night Live (SNL).

Role on Saturday Night Live

The band consists of mostly jazz, 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 "Closing Theme (Waltz in A)," written by founding member Howard Shore.^{[1] [2]} Often, the band will provide the music to a sketch when necessary.

Band leaders and musical directors

Musician and future Academy Award winning film composer Howard Shore was the original musical director and bandleader from 1975 until 1980.Singer and songwriter Kenny Vance (who appeared previously as a musical guest on the May 21, 1977 episode) became the musical director for the show's sixth season (1980–81). Original band member and trombonist Tom Malone took over leadership duties under executive producer Dick Ebersol's tenure from 1981 to 1985. Hall & Oates guitarist G.E. Smith came on board as the new musical director once original producer Lorne Michaels returned and stayed in that position until 1995 when lead saxophonist Lenny Pickett was promoted as bandleader.Katreese Barnes also served as the music director for a time, around the year 2000.^{[3] [4]} Keyboardist Leon Pendarvis (who has been a member of the band since 1980) is also 2nd musical director alongside Pickett.

Other projects

Mariah Carey utilized the horn section of the Saturday Night Live Band (Lew Delgatto, Lenny Pickett, George Young, Earl Gardner, and Steve Turre) for her performance of "If It's Over" during her 1992 MTV Unplugged special.

Tom Malone, Lou Marini, and Alan Rubin were members of the Blues Brothers band fronted by SNL cast members John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd. They were also featured in the first Blues Brothers movie, with Malone as a member of fictional lounge act "Murph and the Magic Tones," Rubin as maitre d' of an expensive French restaurant, and Marini as a fry cook at Aretha Franklin's soul food restaurant. Paul Shaffer was also involved in early Blues Brothers performances, but had scheduling conflicts and could not appear in the film, until the sequel.

Members

Current members

• Leon Pendarvis – keyboards, musical director (1980–present)^[5]
• Alex Foster – alto saxophone (1985–90, 1995–present)^{[6] [7] [8] [9]}
• Lenny Pickett – tenor saxophone, musical director (1985–present)^[10]
• Steve Turre – trombone (1985–present)^[11]
• Christine Ohlman – vocals (1991–present)^[12]
• Shawn Pelton – drums (1992–present)^[13]
• Valerie Naranjo – percussion (1995–present)^[14]
• James Genus – bass guitar (2000–present)^[15]
• Ron Blake – baritone saxophone, flute (2005–present)^[16]
• Tuffus Zimbabwe – keyboards (2010–present)
• Maddie Rice – electric guitar (2020–present)^[17]
• Summer Camargo – trumpet (2022–present)^{[18] [19]}

Musical directors

• Howard Shore (1975–1980)
• Kenny Vance (1980–1981)
• Tom Malone (1981–1985)
• G.E. Smith (1985–1995)
• Lenny Pickett (1995–present)

Past members

Founders

• Bob Cranshaw – bass guitar (1975–80; died 2016)^{[20] [21]}
• Lew Del Gatto – baritone saxophone (1975–79, 1985–2005)^[22]
• Cheryl Hardwick – keyboards (1975–80, 1985–2000; guest 2015)
• Howard Johnson – bass saxophone, tuba (1975–80; died 2021)
• Bert Jones – electric guitar (1975–79)
• Tom Malone – trombone, trumpet (1975–85)
• Lou Marini – tenor saxophone (1975–83)^{[23] [24]}
• Alan Rubin – trumpet (1975–83; died 2011)
• Paul Shaffer – keyboards (1975–80; guest 1982, 2015)^[25]
• Dahaud Shaar– drums (1975–77; died 2018)^{[26] [27]}
• Howard Shore – alto saxophone (1975–80)
• Mauricio Smith – baritone saxophone (1975–77; died 2002)

1970s additions

• Gregory Bloch - violin, mandolin (1977-1979)
• Steve Jordan – drums (1977–78)
• Buddy Williams – drums (1978–85)
• Marcus Miller – bass guitar (1979–81)
• Elliott Randall – electric guitar (1979–80)
• David Sanborn – alto saxophone (1979-80; died 2024)
• Georg Wadenius – electric guitar (1979–85)
• George Young – alto and baritone saxophones (1979–80, 1990–95)

1980s additions

• Ray Chew – keyboards (1980–83)
• Ronnie Cuber – baritone saxophone (1980–83; died 2022)
• Lawrence Feldman – alto saxophone (1980–83)
• Neil Jason – bass guitar (1980–83)
• Chris Palmaro – keyboards (1980–83)
• David Spinozza – electric guitar (1980–83)
• Tom Barney – bass guitar (1983–85, 1995–2000)
• Michael Brecker – tenor saxophone (1983–85; died 2007)
• Steve Ferrone – drums (1985–86)
• Earl Gardner – trumpet (1985–2022)^{[28] [29]}
• G.E. Smith – electric guitar (1985–95; guest 2000, 2015)^[30]
• Tom Wolk – bass guitar (1985–90; guest 1994; died 2010)
• Chris Parker – drums (1986–91)
• Buster Poindexter – vocals (1986–87)
• Tony Garnier – bass guitar (1987–89)

1990s additions

• Matt Chamberlain – drums (1991–92)
• Paul Ossola – bass guitar (1991–95)
• Jane Getter – electric guitar (1995)^[31]
• Lino Gomez – baritone saxophone (1995–98)
• Yoshiko Hirashige – electric guitar (1995–97)
• Lukasz Gottwald – electric guitar (1997–2007)^[32]

2000s additions

• Katreese Barnes – keyboards (2000–10; died 2019)
• Jared Scharff – electric guitar (2007–20)^[33]

External links

• Official NBC website

Notes and References

1. News: On the Record: 'Tapestry,' SNL songs close, but not the same. Darr. Deanna. Rapid City Journal. May 16, 2013. May 4, 2017.
2. Web site: Moon over Naples – YouTube. YouTube.
3. Web site: SNL's Former Musical Director Breaks Out on Her OWN. October 10, 2011.
4. Web site: Katreese Barnes – HOME. Katreese. Barnes. katreese.com. July 22, 2018.
5. News: 'SNL' Band's Onstage Reunion to Take Place at Bay Street on Saturday. Walsh. Christopher. East Hampton Star. June 18, 2015. October 18, 2020.
6. Web site: Alex Foster. RS Berkeley. October 18, 2020.
7. Madonna/Simple Minds. Saturday Night Live. 11. 1. NBC. November 9, 1985. Closing credits.
8. Candice Bergen/The Notting Hillbillies. Saturday Night Live. 15. 20. NBC. May 19, 1990. Closing credits.
9. Mariel Hemingway/Blues Traveler. Saturday Night Live. 21. 1. NBC. September 30, 1995. Closing credits.
10. News: Sax and Satire on 'Saturday Night Live'. Dollar. Steve. The Wall Street Journal. July 21, 2014. October 18, 2020.
11. News: Talking about Rahsaan: Q&A with Steve Turre. The Mercury News. August 8, 2014. October 18, 2020.
12. Web site: SNL Vocalist Christine Ohlman & Rebel Montez to Appear at the Emelin, April 22 .
13. News: SNL drummer Pelton donates kit to Indiana U. . April 18, 2013. Associated Press. The Oklahoman. October 18, 2020.
14. Web site: Saturday Night Live Band percussionist to perform with Virginia Tech percussion, jazz ensembles. McHugh. Ryan. October 30, 2015. Virginia Tech Daily. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. October 18, 2020.
15. Rob Lowe/Eminem. Saturday Night Live. 26. 1. NBC. October 7, 2000. Closing credits.
16. Web site: Alumni Profile: SNL Band Members . New York University . August 22, 2014.
17. Chris Rock/Megan Thee Stallion. Saturday Night Live. 46. 1. NBC. October 3, 2020. Closing credits.
18. The SNL Standby Line. standbyline. 1576016471376809985. A big welcome to Summer Camargo! She has joined the #SNL house band as a trumpet player. Congrats!. September 30, 2022. October 9, 2022.
19. Miles Teller/Kendrick Lamar. Saturday Night Live. 48. 1. NBC. October 1, 2022. Closing credits.
20. George Carlin/Billy Preston & Janis Ian. Saturday Night Live. 1. 1. NBC. October 11, 1975. Closing credits.
21. News: Bob Cranshaw, jazz bassist who spent five decades with Sonny Rollins, dies at 83. The Washington Post. Schudel. Matt. November 4, 2016. October 18, 2020.
22. Web site: Lew del Gatto - BIO .
23. Ed Koch/Kevin Rowland & Dexys Midnight Runners. Saturday Night Live. 1. 1. NBC. May 14, 1983. Closing credits.
24. News: The Dallas Morning News . Blue Lou Marini, TI Jazz Band to perform . PressReader.com . February 15, 2011 . October 18, 2020.
25. Paul Shaffer is ready for his next gig. Hall. Phil. March 29, 2017. WAG Magazine. Westfair Communications. October 18, 2020.
26. Drummer who kept the beat for Van Morrison in 1970s dies. Little. Ivan. Belfast Telegraph. January 29, 2018. December 10, 2020.
27. Drumming On TV. Micaleff. Ken. Modern Drummer. December 2009. October 18, 2020.
28. Web site: Earl Gardner. Dangerous Curves Productions. October 18, 2020.
29. Miles Teller/Kendrick Lamar. Saturday Night Live. 48. 1. NBC. October 1, 2022. Closing credits.
30. Web site: SNL's former band leader G.E. Smith comes to Fishlips. Branco. Shellie. The Bakersfield Californian. March 17, 2009. October 18, 2020.
31. Chevy Chase/Lisa Loeb & Nine Stories. Saturday Night Live. 21. 2. NBC. October 7, 1995 . Closing credits.
32. Web site: Dr. Luke: The Man Behind Pop's Biggest Hits. September 20, 2010. National Public Radio. October 18, 2020.
33. Web site: James Egolf . Rig Rundown – Saturday Night Live's Jared Scharff . Premierguitar.com . November 5, 2012 . November 17, 2021.