Hi Yes, it changed immensely, things like: the White House saw the show and called me to play and emcee an event for the President, and many other things Thanks

Hi, I'm glad you enjoyed it, Johnny was great! For the first show, nervous scale 1 to 10, when I look back at it, I would say a 1 or 2, it was like a dream that just happened so quick that I didn't have time to get nervous, honestly. Second show, I had a week for my brain to process playing for 28 million people, just me and a piano, it was at least a 9, and probably a 10, I was terrified at times, until I sat at the piano and started playing. All the best, David

I love the Internet. The fact that the artist(!) is responding to comments this many years later is just awesome.

Hi It really wasnt a setup, my brother and I were at the beach and sightseeing all day, and my brother really wanted to see the TONIGHT SHOW LIVE before he flew back to OHIO the next day. The fact that I wasnt nervous was because I had no idea 28 million people were watching that night, quite honestly it was like a dream, lol.

After the show my phone rang off the hook for a couple days, I even got some marriage proposals ?? bizarre?? lol, but I stayed in touch with Johnny indirectly through his staff, he was truly a very kind man to me. THanks for asking

Thanks, it was a lot of fun Johnny was great

Thanks everyone for your wonderful comments, I'm glad you enjoyed the video, Johnny was so great to me!

Who but Johnny would take a risk like this and have it come out so great?

I'm trying It's pretty exhausting after awhile I feel it's the least I could do You all took your time on a Friday night to watch a clip of mine Thanks

sorry, I came straight from the beach, I didnt even know that my brother wanted to go to the show until midday of sight seeing, lol

Love the way he pretends he has an evening jacket on as he sits down. Brilliant playing Sir!

David, we were seated next to the right of you in the audience that memorable night. My late friend Smittee was directly next to you, he was a contestant on 'Putting on the Hits' at the time...and later traveled with the Jump in the Saddle Band mimicking 'The Curly Shuffle'. I'm the guy with shades, and shortly after this did radio in your hometown of Columbus. I'll never forget how impressive you were that night, told the story dozens of times and forwarded this video as well

When Preparation meets Opportunity

Haven't heard anyone play like that since Liberace! I like how you throw back the tails on your tux!!

100% honest, Johnny would of had to explain it to everyone when it was all over. He was too classy to not be honest - THE KING OF LATE NIGHT

Excellent!!! I watched an interview you did where you explained how you treated the performance like you were playing for a few hundred people. I can only imagine how I would react knowing so many were watching... How you got up on stage and sat down at the piano and made it seem like the millionth time you did that same routine!?!?! You didn't play the piano. It was a performance.... in flip flops no less!! I will never tire of watching these!!

As a drummer, I'll admit to, many times, having the dream of being at a concert of a major band, when they realize they have no drummer and call me from the audience.....You lived it back then, that had to feel incredible!

That was what was so magical about Johnny's shows. You never knew who Johnny would give the opportunity of you life to and he loved doing that. Wow David!

I'm 10 years too late, but this is really awesome !!!

Wow....how cool is this? Prime example of how a moment in time can change a person's life.....good job.....

Everytime I see this - it's not the beautiful and gifted playing that always impresses me but the amazing, sweet and funny personality ~ still makes me smile!

Watched several times, saved it . Marvelous. I’m smiling. Its4am:) back to sleep.

Awesome.....with a capitol A......!!!!! (But we all know just how wonderful you are) i'm just glad i have had the pleasure of working with such a genius.....many more blesses to come...!!!!!

This was so awsome to watch. A complete natural with showmanship. Had the crowd eating out of his talented hands.

Beautiful! David is such a talented, personable performer with impeccable piano technique! To play as he did before millions without rehearsal is amazing! Moments like this were what made Johnny the king of television for all time!

Thanks for all the comments. I'm glad you enjoyed the video, it was a lot of fun, but to be honest, the 2nd time I was asked to be on, I was incredibly nervous and almost too nervous to go on. Johnny was the nicest man to me, both times, he was definitely THE KING OF LATE NIGHT TV.

Great playing David - and by the way you were totally ADORABLE!

Phenomenal! I loved that he dressed very very casual.

Hi David, I just heard "Cats" for the first time today, 9-25-2015. I wish I would have heard your performance many years earlier because it was my Dad's favorite Broadway song. He passed away 9-3-1996. I have an amazing son, Mark. He was born on 12-26-1989. He plays the piano, but I will not go out on the limb and say Mark plays as well as you do. Mark has an inborn gift. Just like you do. I am so HAPPY that you were in the right place at the right time. I am always hoping for the same moment for Mark....for God to open a door for my son. Bless you and Thank you for an enjoyable performance. L. M. O'Reilly

Never get tired of watching this and on how great of a pianist you are. God bless you and yours.

Excellence on display👍Thanks for the refresher on what that looks like.

I remember seeing this Johnny Carson show live when it happened. What a great inspiration for Johnny to come up with - he knew he has a talented audience!

David, How very exciting and wonderful that experience must have been for you.

David, you were awesome!!!! Not only do you play fantastic but you added some humor - outstanding!

As a European and someone who was too young to see Johnny. I only recently discovered his shows and what comes across is, with his natural laid back persona, he really put great emphasis on making his guests look great and brought out their best. After watching this I am blown away such a thing occurred and how Johnny rolled with it and just let it happen. What an amazing Story David, You absolutely nailed it! Not many with your talent could do that!

Wow, that's amazing! It must feel like a dream remembering this awesome moment in your life.

WOW. He did that on the spot without any sort of warm-up? Maybe he warmed up a bit during the commercial break, but even still. He didn't even look slightly nervous. Simply incredible.

TIL: Nike shirts have literally not changed in 30 years.

Was watching this the evening it actually played, as with my nights growing up, a day or night was always concluded with watching Johnny....

Wow, the guy has a lot of confidence and sooooo much passion for his music......delightful

That was an amazing moment. Nicely done.

I was gonna comment about how awesome that piano playing was, then realized I'm talking on the players own page. :) That was seriously awesome, and very well played. I loved it!

Videos like this make me wish I had continued playing piano when I was younger.

Very cool my Grandma and Grandfather were huge fans of Carson and I can see why.

That is quite possibly the best rendition of Memories I have ever heard. Well done!

Bravo! Performing at a scheduled event is one thing. Performing impromptu in front of the world - You rocked it.

Just too much fun. Remember it, and was happy to be reminded of it. Have to root for a guy whose life was actually changed for the better.

Thanks, I'm glad my mom kept encouraging me to keep at it even when I didnt want to :~)

So neat. I just love stories like this.

That is just so perfect! Right time, right place, absolutely right talent! Wow!

One of the myriad of reason Johnny is still the king of late night.

man I bet you felt like you were on top of the world when you finished and went back to the chair by Johnny. Way to go!

good for you mate. you owned that!

Huge Carson fan since I was a kid and somehow had never heard of this moment until today. Crying laughing. You did such an amazing job! 🤣

Wow !! that was literally one of the best piano plays ive ever seen! way to go man!

Very cool David, what a great moment... Sure miss Johnny.

That was awesome! You rocked out and remained calm under serious pressure. This made my night.

I honestly thought this was too cool to have possibly been true. I'm so glad it was real, it must have felt truly epic!

Preparation meets opportunity. Wonderful

How lucky can one person be! David Tolley experienced that one in a million opportunity being in right place at the right time. Thank you for harnessing your passion and entertaining us with absolutely delightful works of art on this global stage. Go-Go- David Tolley. I’m a fan!!!

How wonderful! THIS is when talk shows were great especially Johnny! David you play beautifully! Are you still performing professionally?

Thanks Kenny

wow! great performance. I got to see Johnnys show in the 70's, I haven't seen anyone as charismatic since.

That is the dream of so many performers. What a great thing. Good work!

I like the Liberace "over-the-shoulder" look :)

damn talented

Just watched it just now on fb. Glad you are doing well Mr. Tolley. Couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy. You deserve this.

I loved watching Carson. Really neat to see this. Your performance was great. This must have really boosted your career.

hahaha and the little smug/self-assured comical head wiggle smile combo is perfect haha

For a man who's so talented and successful, you are also really humble and grateful to the ones who've helped you. I am sure you are the man with 10 talents in the bible, may God bless you more every day, Sir.

Absolutely crushed it! Loved the showmanship! You're a natural.

Here it is 2024. Wonderful.

Does anyone know a similar story where The Who pulled a drummer out of the audience to finish a show? This was really great David! You rocked it!

Hi Yariv That's pretty accurate Thanks

Just saw this on Facebook. Marvelous!

It has been said that new comedians and musicians that went on Carson had their lives changed immensely for the better (I.e. Drew Carey) for doing so. I hope things happened for you, too !

Thanks Em

Is it just me, or is carson the all time king of television and entertainment? He is to this day the greatest.

Dreams do come true and in odd and often at the least flattering moments. Awesome

That was awesome! I wish we still had real talent like yours today instead of all the noise that's out there now. I've played for over 30 years and wouldn't trade it for anything! Wish I could hear you play in person.!

I finally understand "The Shining" ..."Heeeeeeere's Johnny!" ...never got that...

Thanks, Carson was the BEST!

4:24: WHAT ARE THOOOOSE

Leno has always come off as synthetic. Carson was the real deal.

!st time seeing this. Enjoyed it very much. Thanks for sharing.

Made me cry a little. I could imagine what it must have been like. "Might as well ham it up just a bit. It's not like this will ever happen again." So that feeling along with kind of missing Johnny made me tear up a bit and I felt like just for a moment I knew David. :-D

David---were you nervous doing this? I mean, it must have suddenly dawned on you: "OMG! I'm playing in front of 15 million people!"

Gotta wonder if he knew the laughs at around 4:25 were about his sandals ... good sport either way!

Thanks, it felt great, Johnny was the best !

Thanks, Johnny was the BEST!

i wonder who was the lady seated next to Tolley on the stage.

It really wasn't Honestly

Thanks, it was my younger brother's idea to go to the show!

You killed it, David! That must have been the experience of a lifetime.

Talent! How long had you been playing before then and how long now?

Were your hands shaking or was it just the camera ? I feel like you hit a few wrong notes (is that how you call them in english ?) but that's expected when you're playing on stage, in front of a live audience with no rehearsal beforehand so I would say you nailed it big time. Cheers from France

Watching at 3:30 AM east coast US. Unhappy time in my life. I love the innocent and spontaneous feeling of this. Made me smile, thanks David

INCREDIBLE Performance!! What a way to Rise to the occasion. Johnny was THE BEST indeed.

So David the big question is did that show really change your life even if just for a while ?

This sounded amazing? How many years have you been playing at this time?