Jerry Marotta

Co-Director & Producer

Jerry Marotta Brings Songs to Life

For more than five decades, Jerry has worked professionally recording, touring, producing, arranging songs, as well as in artist development — helping musicians turn ideas into meaningful songs that connect with listeners.

One thing he’s learned over the years is that great songwriters are not born knowing how to do it. They learn through guidance, experience, encouragement, and practice.

That’s why he’s so passionate about helping beginning and developing songwriters discover their voice and build confidence in their craft.

Jerry's career has placed him alongside some of the most respected songwriters, performers, producers, and musicians in modern music history. Those experiences taught him not only how great songs are written, but how they are refined, performed, recorded, and ultimately brought to life.

If you’ve always wanted to write and record songs — or you’ve started the process but feel unsure where to go next — Highwater Recording Retreats are designed for you.

You do not need professional experience.
You do not need to know music theory.
You simply need the desire to express yourself through music.
This is not a rigid classroom environment or a generic online course.
This is real-world creative mentorship shaped by decades of experience in studios, on stages, and in collaboration with world-class artists.

Jerry’s goal is to help new writers feel inspired, capable, and creatively energized

He has partenered with Rees Shad to assemble an exceptional team of players and collaborators who can help transform songs from rough ideas into fully realized recordings.

The goal is simply to help creatives develop recordings and songs that sound honest, professional, and emotionally compelling.

Over the last 53 years, Jerry worked extensively in recording, touring, and production with artists including:

Paul McCartney, Peter Gabriel, The Indigo Girls, Daryl Hall & John Oates, Stevie Nicks, Elvis Costello, Sheryl Crow, Ani DiFranco, John Mayer, Tears For Fears, 10,000 Maniacs, Suzanne Vega, Fee Waybill, Cher, Bonnie Tyler, T-Bone Burnett, Carlene Carter, Beth Nielsen Chapman, Marc Cohn, Marshall Crenshaw, Desmond Child, Pino Daniele, Jim Dawson, The Dream Academy, Linda Eder, Ferron, Tim Finn, Michael Franks, Robert Fripp, Mitchell Froom, Nanci Griffith, Gowan, Kristen Hall, Jewel, Eric Johnson, The Korgis, Los Lobos, Tony Levin, Phil Keaggy, Martha & The Muffins, Eric Martin, Maria McKee, Sarah McLachlan, Peter Murphy, Orleans, Richard Page, Ellis Paul, Happy Rhodes, John Sebastian, Ron Sexsmith, Jules Shear, Michelle Shocked, Carly Simon, David Sylvian, Pierce Turner, Johnny Warman, & Dan Zanes.

In addition to recording and touring, Jerry also produced artists including Ellis Paul, Kristen Hall, Gowan, Anjani Thomas, Sarah Perrotta and others.

As a mentor, Jerry focuses especially on:

Singer-songwriters developing their first material
Artists wanting guidance and encouragement
Creative people exploring songwriting later in life
Writers looking for constructive, supportive feedback

Beginning songwriters often think they need to sound like someone else before they can become “good.”

The truth is that strong songwriting comes from honesty, curiosity, and learning how to shape ideas into something meaningful.

Every songwriter has a voice.

The process is learning how to trust it and develop it.

After 53 years of recording, touring, producing, and collaborating with extraordinary artists, Jerry is passionate about helping the next generation of songwriters grow.