David Letterman a fan of Elvis
Yahoo, 2002-04-30
- Brian Moran

 

For Dave, This Elvis Is King

No matter what strange, off-the-beaten-path destinations Elvis Costello's musical meanderings may transport him to, David Letterman will always leave a light on for him.

The British singer-songwriter, who made his U.S. television debut in 1977 with a famously frenzied, snarling performance on Saturday Night Live has spent much of the past decade traveling outside the world of rock, collaborating with a diverse array of artists including gospel group the Fairfield Four, popmeister Burt Bacharach and Swedish opera singer Anne-Sofie von Otter. While network TV does not typically book such non-mainstream acts, Costello has found a cozy haven for what he calls his "specialty projects," courtesy of his fans at CBS' Late Show.

Since 1994, Costello has visited Late Show 12 times, tying him for second place (behind Willie Nelson's 13) on the Letterman hit parade. One year, Letterman welcomed Elvis to his building a record four times -- each one featuring a different musical style and talent lineup. Costello's appearance on the show last week, backing his new album When I Was Cruel, was his first with a standard four-piece rock band in seven years.

"I've gone in there with lots of different configurations, and they've always been willing to take a chance," Costello says. "I've been able to do some music that's not commonly heard on that type of television show. It's a big risk, because the audience has very little familiarity with it. The safer way to go is with a rock band, or someone from the charts."

Late Show talent executive Sheila Rogers, who oversees all of the show's bookings, says Letterman is a "huge fan" who has asked Costello along on the program's forays to London, San Francisco and L.A. "Elvis always delivers," Rogers says. "We don't book him for ratings, but viewers seem to stay tuned in [to the show's closing musical segment] whenever he's on."

Next stop on Costello's musical mystery tour: an adaptation of A Midsummer Night's Dream, with the London Symphony Orchestra. "Maybe I can come back [to Late Show] with that one," Costello says. "Think about it...we could get Dave to play Puck, or Dave as Bottom. It could be great."

-Brian Moran