MIA students paying tribute to a great Canadian
Jack Richardson was an inspiration
to many people. When he
worked as a record producer, he
made a lasting impact on the
Canadian recording industry.
When he worked at Fanshawe as a
professor, he touched the lives of
many staff and students.
Richardson's legacy continues
even today, and Music Industry
Arts students are paying tribute to
him on February 8.
Adam Barnes, a second-year MIA student, came up with the idea in class to pay tribute to Jack Richardson with a charity show. "We were in Music Business class and our professor was talking about charity shows and how they're a good way to showcase and often you can get the word out faster with those. He said, 'Does anybody have an idea for a charity show?' And I said, 'Oh, well, Jack Richardson. We should do it in honour of Jack.'"
Barnes and his fellow MIA students have been hard at work to put together "Share The Man: The Music Of Jack Richardson." It takes place on February 8 at The Aeolian Hall (795 Dundas St.) — doors open at 7 p.m. and the show starts at 7:30. All proceeds will go to the Heart and Stroke Foundation. "Jack had heart issues later in his life," explained Barnes. "I talked to Terry McManus (an MIA Professor who has been involved in organizing the show) and he was close to Jack. He suggested that we do it for Heart and Stroke."
Though Barnes was never taught by Richardson himself, he said that in working on the show he has spoken with many staff and alumni whose lives were touched by him. "Jack is the man," he laughed. "Jack was a huge pioneer in the Canadian industry — not just the recording industry. Prior to Jack, bands had to go to the States to get their break or to make it in the industry. He worked for Coca-Cola in their marketing department, and he started collaborating with bands, doing ads and stuff. I guess he realized that there was a lot of talent in Canada that wasn't being shown to the world, so he took it upon himself and started his own company, Nimbus 9, and took on The Guess Who as his first (band)."
Professors McManus, Steve Malison and Mike Roth have been working with students to organize this special night. Over 70 students — and a few Fanshawe alumni as well — are involved in the show. The show will feature student bands performing covers of some of the songs Richardson worked on as a producer, such as The Guess Who's "No Time" and "These Eyes" and Bob Seger's "Night Moves."
"Knowing Jack, I think he'd be proud that this came from the students," said John Young, Operations Manager for the Fanshawe Student Union. "They are honouring a Canadian music icon who taught at Fanshawe. The amazing part is, none of these students were taught by Jack, it's just the legacy that he left in that program still reverberates in the students today."
"For all of his great accomplishments, Jack was a very modest man, but I am sure he would have been honoured that the students of Fanshawe College have chosen to pay tribute to him in this unique way," added McManus. "Music was not just close to his heart, it was his life, and so this evening of special songs that Jack produced will capture his spirit in a way that will make it feel as if he were still with us. We could only wish."
For more information about the show, check out Share The Man on Twitter @sharetheman, on Tumblr at sharetheman.tumblr.com and the Facebook event at tinyurl.com/ShareTheManfb. Tickets are $15 for Fanshawe students and $20 for guests and are available at the Biz Booth on campus, at the Aeolian Hall during business hours and at tinyurl.com/ShareTheManTix.
Adam Barnes, a second-year MIA student, came up with the idea in class to pay tribute to Jack Richardson with a charity show. "We were in Music Business class and our professor was talking about charity shows and how they're a good way to showcase and often you can get the word out faster with those. He said, 'Does anybody have an idea for a charity show?' And I said, 'Oh, well, Jack Richardson. We should do it in honour of Jack.'"
Barnes and his fellow MIA students have been hard at work to put together "Share The Man: The Music Of Jack Richardson." It takes place on February 8 at The Aeolian Hall (795 Dundas St.) — doors open at 7 p.m. and the show starts at 7:30. All proceeds will go to the Heart and Stroke Foundation. "Jack had heart issues later in his life," explained Barnes. "I talked to Terry McManus (an MIA Professor who has been involved in organizing the show) and he was close to Jack. He suggested that we do it for Heart and Stroke."
Though Barnes was never taught by Richardson himself, he said that in working on the show he has spoken with many staff and alumni whose lives were touched by him. "Jack is the man," he laughed. "Jack was a huge pioneer in the Canadian industry — not just the recording industry. Prior to Jack, bands had to go to the States to get their break or to make it in the industry. He worked for Coca-Cola in their marketing department, and he started collaborating with bands, doing ads and stuff. I guess he realized that there was a lot of talent in Canada that wasn't being shown to the world, so he took it upon himself and started his own company, Nimbus 9, and took on The Guess Who as his first (band)."
Professors McManus, Steve Malison and Mike Roth have been working with students to organize this special night. Over 70 students — and a few Fanshawe alumni as well — are involved in the show. The show will feature student bands performing covers of some of the songs Richardson worked on as a producer, such as The Guess Who's "No Time" and "These Eyes" and Bob Seger's "Night Moves."
"Knowing Jack, I think he'd be proud that this came from the students," said John Young, Operations Manager for the Fanshawe Student Union. "They are honouring a Canadian music icon who taught at Fanshawe. The amazing part is, none of these students were taught by Jack, it's just the legacy that he left in that program still reverberates in the students today."
"For all of his great accomplishments, Jack was a very modest man, but I am sure he would have been honoured that the students of Fanshawe College have chosen to pay tribute to him in this unique way," added McManus. "Music was not just close to his heart, it was his life, and so this evening of special songs that Jack produced will capture his spirit in a way that will make it feel as if he were still with us. We could only wish."
For more information about the show, check out Share The Man on Twitter @sharetheman, on Tumblr at sharetheman.tumblr.com and the Facebook event at tinyurl.com/ShareTheManfb. Tickets are $15 for Fanshawe students and $20 for guests and are available at the Biz Booth on campus, at the Aeolian Hall during business hours and at tinyurl.com/ShareTheManTix.
