About

www.carriemotzing.photography

Nate Nathan has a passion for music. As an outlet for this passion, he gathered some of his musically-inclined friends,
including Betsy Ganz and his guitar teacher and friend Doug Mann, and started a band. As Nate’s desire to play increased, he asked Doug to take the band to “the next level”. Doug gathered some of the most experienced and world class musicians that the Southwest has to offer, including members of the Herndon Bros Band, The Sunpunchers, Michael ‘Gonzo’ Gonzales, and many others – and the current 13 piece juggernaut of musical talent was born:

Nate Nathan & TheMacDaddyOs!

Join Nate and his friends for a unique musical extravaganza, as they play your classic rock favorites and some great original tunes by the band: and support national charities into the bargain!

James T. “Nate” Nathan
(guitar/vocals)

Nate’s business acumen is a matter of public record. (Just stop by Nathan & Associates Inc. to shop for your next parcel of land & peruse the “Past Projects” tab.) What’s less known is Nate’s ability to unite people for a common cause. He has raised vast amounts of money for various charities with this charisma, and now he has turned his attentions to realizing his dream of making music. A Nate Nathan & The MacDaddy-os show is guaranteed to be a good time – because it’s simply impossible to listen to the band without feeling Nate’s joy. And when he sings “I’m An Old Cowhand”, well, just try not to smile!

Ray Herndon
(guitar/vocals)

Ray Herndon is a veteran singer/songwriter and guitarist with over 50 years in the music industry. He continues to tour with McBride and The Ride and recently performed with Lyle Lovett in March 2025. Ray’s career began as a child star on the local TV show *Lew King Rangers*, where he showcased his talents as a singer and tap dancer. His journey in music took a significant turn when he met Lyle Lovett, leading to his involvement in Lovett’s debut album and extensive global touring. As a principal member of McBride and The Ride, he contributed to six top 10 singles, including the hit “Sacred Ground.” In 2007, Ray released his solo album, *Livin’ The Dream*, featuring collaborations with renowned artists like Clint Black.
An accomplished songwriter, Ray co-wrote Kenny Chesney’s breakout single “Me and You” and has had his songs recorded by artists including Lee Greenwood, Aaron Tippin, and McBride and The Ride, among others. He is also the sole owner of Handlebar J, an iconic Scottsdale venue that has been in his family since 1975 and was inducted into the Arizona Music Hall of Fame. Additionally, Ray is a member of the Scottsdale Charros, a philanthropic group supporting education and community initiatives. Ray stays very active in the local Arizona music scene, performing with his band, The Herndon Brothers, as well as with Nate Nathan and The MacDaddyOs. For updates, follow him on [Facebook] or check out handlebarj.com.

Betsy Ganz
(vocals/guitar)

Although Betsy’s abilities as a singer/songwriter are well-known in the Phoenix area, she continues to gain new admirers at every show with her clear and heartfelt vocals. She has performed with various Valley bands, most recently writing & recording an album with The Sunpunchers In her own, typically self-deprecating words, she “was a corporate banker having a mid-life crisis who walked into an open mic night. End of story.” There are many who would disagree, as her original music has provided the soundtrack for many memorable Arizona events over the years.

In addition to her musical life, Betsy is the Development Director for Circle the City, a Phoenix-based charity dedicated to providing health care & shelter to our homeless population.

Greg Varlotta
(trumpet/guitar/vocals/tap-dancing)

Greg Varlotta began studying trumpet under his fathers direction in Lockport, Illinois at the age of 5 and received his music degree in trumpet performance from Arizona State University in 1985. He has performed with numerous symphony orchestras, brass quintets, jazz ensembles, and is the recipient of the prestigious Arion Trumpet Award. In addition to his accomplishments on trumpet and trombone, this multi-talented performer also enjoys singing, tap dancing, Greg has a strong interest in music technology and enjoys working with computers, programming synthesizers, composing and arranging music When not being a Macdaddy-o, Greg can often be found out on the road playing concerts with rock legend Nils Lofgren.

Gary Brusseze
(drums/vocals)

Gary “Breezy” Brusseze is one of the most recognizable musicians in Arizona, having played with just about all of the more accomplished bands in the state at one time or another. He has anchored a wide variety of acts, from country-western to worship music to heavy metal, and has done it all with the enthusiasm and professionalism that have secured his reputation as the Best of the Best. He is probably best known for the two decades he spent in Glen Campbell’s band, touring the world and recording with the country/pop legend throughout 80s & 90s.

John G. Willis
(bass/vocals)

John Willis is an electric & upright bassist currently based in Scottsdale, AZ. An in-demand player for both live appearances and recording sessions, John is best known for his deep groove and commitment to playing “for the song”, regardless of style. A graduate of the Berklee College of Music, John has been playing music for a living for most of his adult life, the only “interruption” being a decade-long tenure at Fender Musical Instruments where, among other things, he managed the SWR line of bass amplification for five years.

Jerry Donato
(saxophones/flute)

“Consummate professional”, “versatility & finesse”, “topnotch” – these are the types of responses you’ll hear from other musicians when asked to describe the playing of Jerry Donato, and he has certainly earned the superlatives over a brilliant career. Since moving to Arizona on 1983, Jerry has performed with nearly every touring show and orchestra that has come through the Phoenix area, played on a few hundred albums, and even logged some television experience, performing on “The Arsenio Hall Show” and on the sountracks for “Evening Shade” and several TNT movies.

Dan Tomlinson
(drums/percussion)

Dan Tomlinson is a Phoenix-based drummer/teacher who has toured and recorded with many world-renowned musicians, most notably Acoustic Alchemy and Lyle Lovett.

Dan has performed on numerous television shows such as The Tonight Show (17 times), David Letterman, The Grammy Awards, Austin City Limits, Good Morning America, and Regis and Kathy Lee.

Dan has also played at the White House twice along with all the major venues in the United States and Europe. With Lyle Lovett and His Large Band, Dan played with guest artists Sting, Bonnie Raitt, Rickie Lee Jones, Bela Fleck, Jackson Browne, Jimmy Buffett, George Duke, Leo Kottke, Alison Krauss, k.d. lang, Willie Nelson, and many more.

Jon Rauhouse
(Steel guitar/mandolin/banjo/guitar)

According to the official bio on allmusic.com: “Since his appearance on the alt-country scene with the Grievous Angels in the mid-’90s, Jon Rauhouse has become Bloodshot Records’ secret weapon multi-instrumentalist, appearing on more than a dozen of their releases, as well as guesting on albums for other labels.” It is precisely this kind of experience, along with a lengthy history of writing, recording & touring with Neko Case and other prominent artists, that led Jon to The MacDaddy-os. The band needed someone who could play anything with strings, and Jon’s name naturally came up!

Megyn Neff
(violin)

photo by Adam Murray

Megyn Neff received her Bachelor of Music degree in Violin Performance at Northern Arizona   University in Flagstaff, AZ. and is currently pursuing a Master’s at ASU. She performed as principal   violinist and assistant concertmaster for the NAU Symphony, Chamber and Opera orchestras, and   worked as a section violinist with the Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra for several years.  She is       constantly in demand for recording sessions for albums, soundtracks and other unique projects, as well as unique performance situations. She is the latest Macdaddy-o to join our band, quickly earning the affectionate title “Violin Fairy” from Nate.

Bill Maley
(trumpet)

Bill Maley has been in the valley for a number of years teaching band and performing on trumpet. Originally from a large musical family in South Georgia, Bill earned his degree in music from Georgia State University in Atlanta. After teaching band in Georgia for a few years, he joined the Army and served for 5 years as trumpet soloist with the US Army Forces Command Band. He then auditioned for, and was awarded a position as trumpet instructor at the Armed Forces School of Music, located on the Naval Amphibious Base in Little Creek, Virginia. After six years, he left military service and relocated to Arizona. For the past 30 years, Bill has worked as a trumpet player in many local and national musical acts and shows. He is a retired band teacher and also proudly served in the 108th Arizona Army National Guard Band, where he completed his 20 years of military service. He continues to perform in a variety of musical groups and is thrilled to be a part of the Mac Daddy-O’s!

Raúl Yáñez
(keyboards/vocals)

Raúl Yáñez is a classically trained jazz pianist, composer, producer, recording/touring artist, and an ASU Instructor for the Popular Music Program. Raul is an ASU graduate with a Masters in Music Education with a jazz concentration. He has made international appearances in Hong Kong, Singapore, Jakarta, Japan, Thailand, Mexico, Portugal and many cities across the US. Raul has performed with El Chicano, Sister Sledge, The Drifters, George Benson, Tito Puente Jr., Wilfredo Reyes Jr., Pete Esquivedo Jr., Bernard Purdie and Lenny Castro—as well as recorded with jazz artists such as Joey Defrancesco, Jimmy Smith, and Hip Hop artist such as Bizzy Bone, Akon and DMX. He is also the composer of the first ever Concerto for Turntable that has been performed all over the world including Carnegie Hall.

Ray stays very active in the local Arizona music scene, performing with his band, The Herndon Brothers, as well as with Nate Nathan and The MacDaddyOs. For updates, follow him on [Facebook] or check out handlebarj.com.

(all photos by Carrie Motzing unless otherwise noted)