Originally from Kenosha, Wisconsin, Dan Fornero attended North Texas State University, where he played first trumpet in the famed One O'Clock Lab Band in 1980 and 1981. Six months after moving to Los Angeles in 1982, Dan toured for a year with Woody Herman, kick-starting his career as a freelance trumpet player.
In 1988, Dan began a three-year tour with Tom Jones, and in 1990, The Brian Setzer Orchestra formed with Dan on first trumpet. 1993 brought additional tours with Tom Jones as well as Al McKay and the LA Allstars, performing the music of Earth, Wind & Fire.
Dan became a founding member of the Vine Street Horns in 1991, and after recording several albums for various artists, the horn section went on to tour with Phil Collins from 1994-2005 and with French rocker Johnny Hallyday from 1998-2003. World tours with Neil Diamond from 2001-2005 filled in the gaps. Since 2006, Dan has found himself enjoying life off the road, primarily as a session player in Los Angeles.
Dan has been a member of Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band since 2003, sharing lead trumpet responsibilities with Wayne Bergeron. He has enjoyed performing with everyone from Carrie Underwood to Lady Gaga and has toured the world extensively with such artists as Phil Collins, Tom Jones, Johnny Hallyday, Neil Diamond, Mumford & Sons, Seth MacFarlane and more.
Dan can often be found on stage at the Ahmanson Theatre, Hollywood Bowl, Pantages Theatre and Walt Disney Concert Hall, among others. Dan Fornero is a Yamaha Performing Artist.
In 2013, Dan released his first album, not so old school, which features LA's finest musicians and pays homage to the styles of music that have influenced his sound.
Dan's film credits include Incredibles 2, Coco, La La Land, Tangled, Horrible Bosses 2, Ferdinand, Sing, Despicable Me 2, Ice Age 2-4, We're the Millers, Frozen, Moana, Crazy Rich Asians, Central Intelligence, X-Men: Apocalypse, The Big Short, The Jungle Book, The Secret Life of Pets, Grease: Live, The Good Dinosaur, The Peanuts Movie, Ted 2, The Intern, Minions, Jersey Boys, Get On Up, Oz the Great and Powerful, Batman Returns, The Mask, Hancock, Bad Santa, The Polar Express, Happy Feet, The Simpsons Movie, Horton Hears a Who!, Semi-Pro, What Happens in Vegas, Hairspray, Bolt, Rio, Knight & Day and Toy Story 3, among others.
His television credits include the Academy Awards, Grammy Awards, Emmy Awards, American Idol, Dancing with the Stars, Family Guy, American Dad, Will & Grace, Star Trek: Discovery, Black-ish, The Middle, Hawaii Five-0, Fuller House, America's Got Talent, Mozart in the Jungle, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Home Improvement, The Simpsons, The Tonight Show, Late Night with David Letterman, Conan, Jimmy Kimmel Live! and Ellen, among others.
