John and Rosie wanted a band big enough to back anyone who might perform on her show, but not as big as the Late Show or Tonight Show bands. They settled on a five-person band, similar to the Posse on The Arsenio Hall Show And rather than hiring his pals from previous gigs, John "wanted to surround myself with 'new blood' as it were. I did hold auditions, and I'm so pleased with the way it's all worked out! I hadn't worked with any of them [before]."

John wrote, arranged and plays piano on the show's theme song. The singers are four members from the cast of Grease. [The words for the first season were written by Randy Cohen, the show's first head writer, who was later replaced by Judy Gold, who helped John McDaniel pen the second season's lyrics.]

With that behind him, the band set to work developing a repertoire of show tunes, movie themes and pop and rock songs to play during commercial breaks. How does John decide what the band should play as they go to commercial? "I like to surprise Rosie with the music to commercial - sometimes it has to do with something that just happened, or something coming up - but many times, it's just something I like to play!" The show's research department also helps John find appropriate songs for certain guests.

During the first week of the show, Rosie suggested she might have a contest to name the band, but in the meantime began calling them the McDLT's. The name stuck and there's been no more discussion of any need to change it.

With Rosie signed through the 2001-2002 season, the band has settled in for the long haul. There are "no plans for any changes; I love them all!" claims a very pleased John McDaniel.

John McDaniel - Leader/Piano
Playbill Interview, June 4, 1998
Born and raised in St. Louis, he graduated from Carnegie Mellon in Pittsburg with a B.F.A. in drama. John debuted as a Broadway music director in Grease, for which he also conducted two cast albums (one with Rosie as Rizzo, the other with Brooke Shields). Even with The Rosie O'Donnell Show, John still has his hand in the Broadway stuff — he conducted Chicago for a week in 1997, while its regular conductor, Rob Fisher, took a vacation, and he still supervises Grease on Broadway and on tour! And he's currently music director for Broadway's Annie Get Your Gun.

He has directed and played piano, both in New York and around the country. In 1985 he was band leader on the cruise ship Fairsea, where he first met Patti LuPone. He conducted the 1993 reunion of the original Broadway cast of Company in Concert at Lincoln Center. He also served as Resident Conductor of the Long Beach Civic Light Opera for several seasons, winning the L.A. Drama Critics Circle Award for his music direction of Chicago.

He was Patti LuPone's director and pianist on her last tour and on her "Patti LuPone Live" album, recorded June 8, 1993 for RCA Victor. John got to work with Patti once again on December 9, 1996 recording a live concert with Colm Wilkinson for PBS.

On The Rosie O'Donnell Show John plays a Baldwin Concert Grand piano and a Kurzweil K2500X keyboard. John's e-mail address is TheR0McD@aol.com
There's also an unofficial John McDaniel Online Fan Club.

Morris "Mo" Goldberg - Alto Sax, Penny Whistle
Known for his expert playing of the penny whistle as well as alto saxophone, clarinet, and flute, Mo has appeared on three albums by Paul Simon (including Graceland 1986), Hugh Masekela (Beatin' Aroun De Bus 1992), Hans Theessink (Call Me 1993), Tony Bird (Sorry Africa 1990) and Philip Tabane (Unh! 1989). Mo's e-mail address is TheR0Sax@aol.com

Rodney Jones - Guitar
Rodney is musical director for and frequenly tours with blues singer Ruth Brown (Songs of my Life which Rodney produced, arranged and directed, Fine and Mellow and Blues on Broadway). In addition, he is producing Lena Horne's next album for Blue Note, and working on his own next album.

Rodney has already recorded several albums of his own, the most recent on Blue Note, The Undiscovered Few, released June 15, 1999. His earlier albums were The "X" Field, Articulation and When You Feel Love.

As an accompanist, Rodney has also appeared on albums with Dizzy Gillespie (1976's live Dizzy's Party), organist Jimmy McGriff (Right Turn on the Blues, McGriff's Blues), former James Brown alto sax player Maceo Parker (Life on Planet Groove, Roots Revisited), and the two-volume Tribute to Wes Montgomery.

Most of the time Rodney plays a Yamaha SA 2200 Semi Hollow guitar. He also owns Yamaha acoustics in steel and nylon string versions, a Yamaha Strat and a Pensa Custom Strat from Rudy's Guitars in New York City. His amp is a Rivera R100-212A with dual 12" speakers ("Great amp"). Rodney's effects setup includes an Ernie Ball Volume Pedal, Jim Dunlop Crybaby® Wah Wah Pedal, Tech21 XXL Distortion Pedal and a Korg DT112 Tuner. His strings are all D'Addario ("the best") and his picks are Fender Mediums.
You can write to Rodney at TheR0Gtr@aol.com

Ray "Boom-Boom" Marchica - Drums
Ray has played perfect paradiddles in the pits for many Broadway shows, including Damn Yankees and Will Rogers Follies, for both of which he can also be heard on Original Cast albums. He has also recorded with Earl Klugh and Craig Peyton (Tropical Escape 1994). Ray uses Premier drums and percussion on the show. Ray also appeared in the 1987 Woody Allen film Radio Days as a USO musician. You can reach him at TheR0Drums@aol.com

Tracy Wormworth - Bass
"I had just completed a European tour with Wayne Shorter before I started playing on The Rosie O'Donnell Show." Tracy spent two years in the early 80's with The Waitresses (two albums), toured with Sting on his Nothing Like the Sun tour, and played and/or recorded with the B-52's (Good Stuff 1992), Paula Abdul, Toshi Reagon, Special EFX, Rachell Ferrell, and Wayne Shorter. "I have also recorded with David Lee Roth, pop vocalist Des'ree, jazz violinist Regina Carter, R&B/pop group The Family Stand, jazz pianist Rachel Z, Lena Horne and I've played on jingles for AT&T, HBO, Domino's Pizza and others. Outside of the show I play gigs locally and I still do recording sessions when my schedule permits." Tracy joined the reunion tour of the B-52's during the show's 1998 summer hiatus.

"My main axe is a black Sadowsky Guitars 4-string, and I play his 5-string on the show too. The electric upright is a [blond] 4-string Zeta Cross-over Bass. I endorse both Sadowsky and Zeta, and I'm playing through both the David Eden bass amp setup I use on the show (mine) and a Manley DI box (audio's)." Tracy's brother is drummer Jimmy Wormworth. Tracy's e-mail address is TheR0Bass@aol.com

Copyright © 2004 Patrick Spreng.