Jerry was born in Cleveland, Ohio. At the age of five his family moved to Harrison, NY in Westchester county. In the 4th grade he started taking clarinet lessons.
In the very first report card that year, his music teacher wrote Jerry shows absolutely no interest in the clarinet! He switched over to saxophone with only a little more success. Ironically it was that same year that Jerry’s brother Rick Marotta brought home the drum kit that would change both their lives for good.
Cut to Jerry graduating from Harrison High in the summer of 1973 (a year early) and taking his final exams on the road with him. Jerry’s brother Rick recorded an album with Arthur, Hurley and Gotlieb for Columbia Records and their single broke the top 40. They were in need of a drummer and Jerry got the call.
In 1975 Jerry auditioned for a Woodstock based group called Orleans and got the job. Soon afterwards he found himself in L.A. recording the Waking and Dreaming record, played on his first hit “Still The One” and on the road, with Orleans, supporting Jackson Browne. Orleans founding member, John Hall, left the band in the summer of 1977. As the band took time to decide what their next move would be, Jerry flew to London and started working with ex-Genesis lead singer Peter Gabriel.
For the next two decades Jerry divided his time between recording and touring with Peter Gabriel, Daryl Hall and John Oates, Tears for Fears, Joan Armatrading, Paul McCartney, Sarah McLachlan, John Mayer and countless others.
In 1986 Jerry started his own band Island Of Men. He then moved from New York City to Woodstock NY where put together his studio JERSVILLE STUDIOS and began producing recordings for his band and others.
Jerry is currently dividing his time between recording and touring and managing two studios: DREAMLAND and JERSVILLE.
Drummer/Producer:
Jerry Marotta has recorded and toured with Peter Gabriel, The Indigo Girls, Hall and Oates, Tears For Fears, Elvis Costello, Paul McCartney, 10,000 Maniacs, Suzanne Vega and Los Lonely Boys to name only a few. Through his extensive touring experience and performances on hundreds of albums Jerry has worked with many of the greatest producers in the world.
As a performer or composer Jerry has contributed to various movie and TV projects including Small Miracles starring Judge Hirsch, Dovid Meyer, ABC’s I’m with Her with Rhett Miller, and Survivor.
Currently Jerry is spreading his time between The Marotta Brothers Band (with Rick), The Fragile Fate with Rupert Greenall (The Fixx), Flav Martin, Security Project with Trey Gunn, Reelin’ in the Years, and Annie & The Hedonists.
Jerry now carries his experiences into his own career as a producer. All the skills he brings to studio sessions as a performer are now combined with album production. There are very few styles of music or personalities that he has not worked with! Jerry also contributed the production of two tracks to the Indigo Girls’ 1200 Curfews album. Jerrys producer credits now include Kristin Hall, Larry Gowan, Andrew Caine, Pam Goldin, Gabriella Schaaf, Barbara Kessler, Ellis Paul, and Sarah Perrotta.
Word is getting out about Jerry Marotta’s availability as a producer. We know him as one of the finest and most sought after drummers in the world. The albums he has produced speak for themselves.
He is already one of the world’s most sought after drummers!