Danny Gottlieb

Gottlieb was born in New York City on April 18, 1953.[1] He took lessons from Mel Lewis and Joe Morello and graduated from the University of Miami in 1975.[1] Morello was his lifelong teacher, beginning in 1968 and through the late 1990s.[1] He became a member of the Gary Burton Quartet in 1976 with Pat Metheny.[2] He was one of the original members of The Pat Metheny Group from 1977 to 1983.[2] Bassist Mark Egan was also in Metheny's first group.[1] Egan and Gottlieb formed the band Elements.[1]

In 1982, Gottlieb toured with Flora Purim and Airto Moreira.[1] Gottlieb played with singer Michael Franks in 1983, and the following year toured with trumpeter Randy Brecker and saxophonist Stan Getz.[1] He was, for a short time in 1984, a member of the Mahavishnu Orchestra led by guitarist John McLaughlin.[2] He was also part of the band Second Story Television in 1985[3] and was a regular member of Gil Evans' orchestra from 1986 until Evans died two years later.[1]

"From 1991 Gottlieb made a number of visits to Germany to perform with the WDR Big Band in collaboration with Bob Brookmeyer, George Gruntz, and Dino Saluzzi."[1] In the mid-1990s he was part of less jazz-oriented and more vocal-based performances: Booker T. & the M.G.'s, and accompanying The Manhattan Transfer.[1]