Late night TV on CBS looks a little different. while host Late Show with Stephen Colbert He’s not going anywhere for the foreseeable future, he’s on the verge of losing the squad leader long ago. Academy Award and Grammy Award winning artist John Baptiste served as a bandleader Late Show For seven seasons, but now he is leaving the band and focusing on his own projects.
During the new Thursday episode of Late ShowColbert announced to the audience and viewers at home that Batiste has officially exited the Late Night Talk series. Batiste has been absent from the band for some time and this announcement makes his departure even more permanent. The band’s current iteration, under Batiste’s leadership, was titled Stay Human. Now he will be called Late Show, with interim squad leader Louis Cato taking the role full-time. Cato’s permanent assignment will begin on Tuesday, September 6, when The Late Show returns for its new season.
“Lewis did a great job this summer, and he’s very humble, so he wouldn’t say this. But I will. He’s a musical genius,” Colbert said during the new episode Thursday. “He can play basically every instrument out there. Give him an afternoon, and he’ll learn how to play Mozart on a shoe horn.”
“We have been very fortunate to have a front row seat to John’s incredible talent for the past seven years,” the host added. “And do we miss him here?” yes! “But we’re so happy for you, John, and I can’t wait for you to come back as a guest with your next record.”
While next season will be the first time Cato will actually take charge of the squad, he has been working alongside Batiste for the past seven years. Cato will join The Late Show Band with Joe Saylor, Louis Foucher, John Lampley, India Owens and Nega Santos.
“It has been one of the greatest honors of my life working on this show, alongside some of the most talented musicians and creators that I know,” Cato said. “Watching and learning from both John and Stephen over the past seven years, I’m really excited to continue the tradition of excellence they have established.”
At the 2022 Grammy Awards, Batiste took home the Gold Medal for Album of the Year.
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