Concert Details

Show Notes:

Pre-recorded on 26 September for broadcast on Sunday 29 September 1991. U.S. television show aired on FOX affiliates.

Nathan East Leaves ‘Em Listening on Comics Show
Los Angeles Times | San Diego Spotlight
September 25, 1991 | John D’Agostino

The weekly “Sunday Comics,” an hour-long TV potpourri of stand-up comic bits and comedic film shorts that debuted in April, has a very visible San Diego connection. But it’s not a funnyman. The local focus is the show’s house bandleader, bassist extraordinaire Nathan East.

Local rock and jazz buffs will identify East, 35, as the funkster who, years ago, had a band at Crawford High School called Power, which included Fattburger keyboardist Carl Evans Jr. and saxophonist Hollis Gentry. Since moving to L.A. in 1979, East has become the most ubiquitous bass player in contemporary music, recording with such heavyweights as Mark Knopfler, Phil Collins, Elton John, Peter Gabriel, Barbra Streisand, Michael Jackson and others.

In 1986, East performed on legendary guitarist Eric Clapton’s album, “Behind the Sun,” thus initiating a professional relationship that continues to this day. As a member of Clapton’s touring band, East was given his own solo spotlight during a May, 1990, concert before a hometown crowd at the Sports Arena.

The two will be reunited Sunday when Clapton makes a rare television appearance to perform with the “Sunday Comics” house band, whose other members are keyboardist Randy Waldman, guitarist Michael Thompson, drummer Mike Baird and saxophonist Danny Pelfry. The show airs at 10 p.m. Sundays on the Fox network (Channel 6). It will mark Clapton’s first television showing since his 4-year-old son, Conor, was killed in a fall from the balcony of a New York high-rise last year.

To accommodate Clapton’s appearance, the show will feature longer “bumpers”–those musical segues into and out of commercials–and will close the show by showcasing the all-star band in a special performance.