Doctor of Letters, honoris causa
Born into music, Garth Richardson was raised in the legendary Nimbus 9 studio in Toronto, where his father, Jack Richardson, C.M. (Order of Canada) —a pioneer of the Canadian music industry—helped shape his path.
By 15, Garth was already working in the studio and touring as a live sound engineer, immersed in every facet of the craft. He sharpened his skills at Phase One Studios in Toronto and was mentored under industry icons Bob Ezrin who produced Pink Floyd’s The Wall, and Brian Christian who engineered the last Elvis Presley record.
Garth’s first album credit came as second engineer on Bob Seger’s Night Moves, marking the start of a storied career. Over the years, Garth has collaborated with some of music’s biggest names, including Red Hot Chili Peppers, Ozzy Osbourne, Kiss, Taylor Swift, Kensington and Alice Cooper.
Garth produced and engineered Rage Against the Machine’s self-titled debut album—earning a Grammy nomination and cementing his reputation as a fearless sonic architect. The album’s anthem “Killing in the Name” became a cultural flashpoint, later topping the UK Christmas charts and has over one-billion streams.
He co-produced K’Naan’s Wavin’ Flag—winner of the 2011 Juno Award for Single of the Year—and produced Head of the Herd’s By This Time Tomorrow. His work has earned multiple Juno nominations, including for the Jack Richardson Producer of the Year Award, named in honour of his father.
Committed to the next generation of creators, Garth co-founded Vancouver’s Nimbus School of Recording Arts with Bob Ezrin. He is also the founder of The Farm Studios, where he continues to craft powerful recordings and mentor emerging talent. Whether behind the console or building community, Garth Richardson remains a driving force in shaping the sound—and future—of music.