214 – Rick Marotta: Bringing Your Personality to Music, Recording w/Steely Dan, James Taylor

Rick Marotta is known for his recordings and touring with such luminaries as James Taylor, Jackson Brown, Steely Dan, Carly Simon, Paul Simon, Linda Ronstadt, Aretha Franklin, Larry Carlton, Warren Zevon and Bette Midler.

Rick began playing drums at 19 when a friend went into the army and left his set of drums to Rick. It wasn’t long before Rick began playing with R&B bands in the New York area, recording with David Spinozza and the group Giant as well as The Riverboat Soul Band.

Rick’s current activities include writing music for movies and television, recording jingles and producing.His scoring for TV can be heard on Everybody Loves Raymond, Yes Dear, and the Hank Azaria Show.

In this episode, Rick talks about:

* His master class at Drum Paradise in Nashville* Staying open to input and fresh ideas* Skills that are needed to record in the studio * Bringing your personality to your playing * Playing gigs with his brother Jerry* Composing music * Cutting “Hour That the Morning Comes” for James Taylor * Recording with Steely Dan * Double drums with Steve Gadd* Changes in the music industry