city lights | tribune article

Lifetime Love of Music, cont.

Daniels, who graduated from Brother Rice in 1978, earned a bachelor's degree in music composition
from the DePaul University School of Music in 1983. Daniels became conductor of the Big Band
Machine in 1976 and has been the conductor of the City Lights Orchestra since its founding.

“Conducting came to me naturally,” he said. “The conductor is the Elmer's Glue that holds it all
together . . . The motions are sometimes important, sometimes they are just getting you to the next
spot where the musicians need to look up and take notice of some information.”

Chris Lay of Chicago, a trombone player, joined the group in the 1970s. Lay, a freelance musician,
plays with the orchestra and helps write music for corporate events.

“Rich is one of the best people to work with in live music in Chicago,” Lay said. “His depth of knowledge
in general music is incredible, and he knows more songs by memory than anyone I know.

“He is a complete package,” Lay said of Daniels' talents as a sax player, conductor and composer.
“That is what sets him apart, and it is what makes him successful.”

Jim Widlowski of Park Ridge, another freelancer, has played drums for the orchestra since the
mid-1980s. “I have worked with a lot of different people, and Rich is fair and seems genuinely
concerned about the people he works with,”Widlowski said. “He is my boss and at the same time he is
friend, and that is unusual.”

As band leader, Daniels has several roles, including hiring the musicians and arranging the music.
Each year, the orchestra has about 200 performance dates, 80 percent of them between April and
New Year's Eve. The cost of booking City Lights depends on the day of the week, time, location and
number of members required; it may range from thousands to tens of thousands of dollars, Daniels said.


		Lifetime Love of Music, *cont.* Daniels, who graduated from Brother Rice in 1978, earned a bachelor's degree in music composition from the DePaul University School of Music in 1983. Daniels became conductor of the Big Band Machine in 1976 and has been the conductor of the City Lights Orchestra since its founding. “Conducting came to me naturally,” he said. “The conductor is the Elmer's Glue that holds it all together . . . The motions are sometimes important, sometimes they are just getting you to the next spot where the musicians need to look up and take notice of some information.” Chris Lay of Chicago, a trombone player, joined the group in the 1970s. Lay, a freelance musician, plays with the orchestra and helps write music for corporate events. “Rich is one of the best people to work with in live music in Chicago,” Lay said. “His depth of knowledge in general music is incredible, and he knows more songs by memory than anyone I know. “He is a complete package,” Lay said of Daniels' talents as a sax player, conductor and composer. “That is what sets him apart, and it is what makes him successful.” Jim Widlowski of Park Ridge, another freelancer, has played drums for the orchestra since the mid-1980s. “I have worked with a lot of different people, and Rich is fair and seems genuinely concerned about the people he works with,”Widlowski said. “He is my boss and at the same time he is friend, and that is unusual.” As band leader, Daniels has several roles, including hiring the musicians and arranging the music. Each year, the orchestra has about 200 performance dates, 80 percent of them between April and New Year's Eve. The cost of booking City Lights depends on the day of the week, time, location and number of members required; it may range from thousands to tens of thousands of dollars, Daniels said.