Zoro the Drummer's Career Started With Nothing
Our American Stories
iHeartPodcasts
4.6 • 816 Ratings
🗓️ 5 May 2026
⏱️ 21 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
On this episode of Our American Stories, before he became Zoro the Drummer, he was a kid named Daniel Donnelly trying to find his place in the world. Music gave him the direction he needed. A chance encounter at school opened a door, and one connection led to another as he worked his way into the music industry.
Over time, he built a remarkable career, performing with artists such as Lenny Kravitz, Frankie Valli, Bobby Brown, and New Edition. Along the way, his mother’s faith remained a guiding force in his life and career.
Zoro shares the story of how he made it in music and the lessons that shaped him along the way. Be sure to check out his phenomenal book, Maria’s Scarf.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | This is an I-Heart podcast. |
| 0:02.6 | Guaranteed Human. |
| 0:04.3 | Hey, this is Robert from the Stuff to Blow Your Mind podcast. |
| 0:07.7 | Joe and I are both lifelong Star Wars fan, so we're celebrating May the 4th with a brand |
| 0:11.8 | new week of fun, thought-provoking Star Wars-related episodes. |
| 0:15.5 | Join us as we tackle science and culture topics from a galaxy far, far away, such as the |
| 0:20.3 | biology of taunons and wampas |
| 0:22.2 | on the ice planet hot, or the practicality and corporate business sense of the Sith rule of two. |
| 0:28.3 | Listen to Stuff to Bo Your Mind on the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your |
| 0:33.5 | podcasts. |
| 0:44.4 | Music your podcasts. And we return to our American stories. |
| 0:47.9 | Up next, a story from Zorro the drummer. |
| 0:51.1 | He's worked for musicians the likes of Lenny Kravitz, |
| 0:53.9 | Frankie Valley, and Lisa Marie Presley. |
| 0:56.8 | But before he was a renowned drummer, he was a poor kid from California named Daniel Donnelly. |
| 1:03.3 | Let's get into the story. Take it away, Zorro. |
| 1:06.2 | My life is very much like Forrest Gump. All the things that were not supposed to happen to Forrest happen. |
| 1:15.6 | If you remember in the movie, you know, he's in the White House with Elvis. |
| 1:18.2 | All these amazing things to this kid, the unlikely kid. |
| 1:21.9 | That was pretty much me. |
| 1:27.3 | My mother, Maria, had the enormous task of raising seven children alone in the area known as Compton, the hood. |
| 1:38.5 | So I was straight out of Compton, like the rap song says. |
... |
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