Rick Marotta

Richard Thomas Marotta (born January 7, 1948) is an American drummer and percussionist. He has appeared on recordings by leading artists such as Aretha Franklin, Carly Simon, Steely Dan, James Taylor, Paul Simon, John Lennon, Hall & Oates, Stevie Nicks, Wynonna, Roy Orbison, Todd Rundgren, Roberta Flack, Peter Frampton, Quincy Jones, Jackson Browne, Al Kooper, Waylon Jennings, Randy Newman, Kenny G, The Jacksons, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Boz Scaggs, Warren Zevon, and Linda Ronstadt. He is also a composer who created music for the popular television shows Everybody Loves Raymond and Yes, Dear. Marotta was born in New York City and taught himself to play drums at the age of nineteen. He was in a band called The Riverboat Soul Band, which released an album called Mess-up in 1968.

Marotta spent several years in the early 1970s as the drummer for his own group, the short-lived Brethren. Tom Cosgrove sang and played lead, Stu Woods played bass, and Mike Garson played keyboards. They released two albums; the first was the eponymous Brethren, which was mildly successful. The second, released as the band was crumbling, is almost impossible to find. The band had a unique sound, a mixture of rock and country, with traces of jazz and influences from Dr. John, who wrote the album notes and the song "Loop Garoo" for them.

Marotta has composed music for the television sitcoms Everybody Loves Raymond and Yes, Dear. He made a guest appearance in the episode "Johnny and the Pace Makers" of the situation comedy Double Rush in 1995.Marotta's brother, Jerry, is also a noted drummer and percussionist who has recorded and toured with Peter Gabriel.