Being A Member Of The “SNL” Band, And My Experience With Them…

http://www.avclub.com/article/whats-it-be-member-saturday-night-live-house-band-234547
At the link above, is a wonderful interview with SNL guitarist Jared Scharff, who’s been on the show for 9 year. In the article, there is also a 19 minute audio interview with the band’s leader, and master of the sax, Lenny Pickett.

I have a couple of great stories of my own about the band and Lenny, but have never had quite the right opportunity to share them, till now.

On May 2nd and 3rd, of 2014, I visited the Friday afternoon SNL rehearsal, and was there for the live dress rehearsal show on Saturday night, and got back to the hotel in time to see the 11:30 live show on TV. It was interesting to see what got cut.

On my Friday visit, I was there from 1:30 till 8:30 and was thrilled to see much of the show in rehearsal, and was glued to my seat on the studio floor. At one point, I went to the restroom, and on the way back to 8H, I met Lenny in the hall, and spoke with him for a few minutes.

To my amazement, he remembered meeting me in 1975 at a concert I produced inside Diamond Head Crater in Hawaii, with Santana, Hall & Oats, and the band he was in, Tower Of Power. Their great trumpet player, the late Mickey Gillette was a good friend. I had forgotten how tall Lenny was, and it was like talking to Big Bird.

Now this is the funny part…to me at least. As part of the warm up for the show, Colon Jost took the stage in front of the band. He told a few jokes and then said it was time to play, Stump The Band!

When Johnny Carson played this with the audience, they could hardly ever stump Doc and the boys, and I always loved it when Letterman and Paul came up with perfect renditions too, right on the spot, so this should be fun.

Without hesitation, from my front row seat, I yelled out to Jost and Lenny, “How about “Boogaloo Down Broadway” by The Fantastic Johnny C”? Jost replied, “You mean Johnny Cash”? I could see Lenny shaking his head “no” to Colin’s question, so I answered “No, Colin, Johnny C…it’s an old soul song”.

Instantly the band hit a couple of notes from the intro, that were immediacy recognizable to me from the song, and then stopped. At that point, Lenny started talking to the band, and they to each other and all agreeing…”Yes, we know it”. And that was it, and the whole studio erupted in laughs.

They are a tricky bunch, but among the most talented musicians anywhere. But, so you won’t be left wanting, to Boogaloo Down Broadway, here is a link to the tune. Thanks to Jodie Peeler for sharing this article, full of great video. Enjoy! -Bobby Ellerbee

Me behind the guest host entrance door

Great seat for the show, front row floor stage left

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