When Johnny Carson's Guest Did Not Show Up One Night He Looked To The Audience For Musicians

Jan 24, 2020

David Tolley was just another audience member of the "The Tonight Show's" live taping in Los Angeles. But his life was going to change after a pianist did not show up for the show and he volunteered to take his place.

Johnny Carson started off the show with a serious story. Their booked pianist Horatio Gutierrez had caught his hand in a car door and was not going to be able to play that evening. He confirmed the story with an off-screen producer who said he received the call at about 1:30 that afternoon. The producer remarked that they were stuck, but Johnny corrected him and said they weren't actually stuck because he had an idea. He was going to ask the audience.

David raced down the audience stairs and met with the host before a commercial break. When they came back, a piano was waiting for him and audiences were waiting on what was to come. He started the first few notes of "Memory" from "Cats" and it was evident that the young man was a great talent. He put his own twist on the Broadway hit and the audience reacted with huge applause.

In fact the segment was so successful that they asked the pianist back to perform a second time and as Johnny said, this time they paid him.

David went on to be a successful musician and songwriter, and is now a music professor at Delaware State University. According to his university's website, he went on to play for three US presidents, was nominated for two Grammys, created music for the Euro-Disney theme parks, and had worked on a project with Steven Spielberg. When asked if the moment changed his life, David responded on a Reddit AMA, "Yes, it did change my life, but I'm not exactly sure how."

What an incredible moment. Would you be prepared to get up on stage and perform a talent at a drop of a hat this way? Would you be nervous? Tell us about it in the comments below.