Daniel Richard Gottlieb (born April 18, 1953) is an American drummer. He was a founding member of the Pat Metheny Group and was co-founder of Elements with Mark Egan.

Gottlieb was born in New York City on April 18, 1953.^[1] He took lessons from Mel Lewis and Joe Morello and graduated from the University of Miami in 1975.^[1] Morello was his lifelong teacher, beginning in 1968 and through the late 1990s.^[1] He became a member of the Gary Burton Quartet in 1976 with Pat Metheny.^[2] He was one of the original members of The Pat Metheny Group from 1977 to 1983.^[2] Bassist Mark Egan was also in Metheny's first group.^[1] Egan and Gottlieb formed the band Elements.^[1]

In 1982, Gottlieb toured with Flora Purim and Airto Moreira.^[1] Gottlieb played with singer Michael Franks in 1983, and the following year toured with trumpeter Randy Brecker and saxophonist Stan Getz.^[1] From 1984-1986, he was a member of the Mahavishnu Orchestra led by guitarist John McLaughlin and is featured in the video live at Montreux.^[3] He is also featured on the recording Adventures in Radioland.^[2] He was also part of the band Second Story Television in 1985^[4] and was a regular member of Gil Evans' orchestra from 1986 until Evans died two years later.^[1] Gottlieb is featured on a variety of recordings with the band, including Bud and Bird^[5] and the 75th Birthday Concert.^[6]

Gottlieb visited Germany on several occasions beginning in 1991, and performed with the WDR Big Band along with Bob Brookmeyer, George Gruntz, and Dino Saluzzi.^[1] During the mid-1990s he was part of less jazz-oriented and more vocal-based performances by groups such as Booker T. & the M.G.'s and The Manhattan Transfer.^[1]

Gottlieb is currently on faculty at the University of North Florida School of Music and performs with the Lt. Dan Band.^[7]