Little Known Artist

Dean Stairs is an award winning musician with a top tier record of Production, Engineering and Musicianship. He has worked in the Music Industry for over 30 years and has established a reputation as a collaborative force through effective networks and a strong clear vision. He has been instrumental in the direction and strength of the Music Industry in Atlantic Canada, having served several years on the Board of Directors of the Music Association of Newfoundland and Labrador(MusicNL) and the past eleven years(including six years as Chair) on the Board of Directors of the East Coast Music Association (ECMA). 

Together with his wife Stevie, they have built The Citadel House into a recognized brand within the creative industries by identifying and developing new talent within the framework of Atlantic Canada. Dean is known to be a mentor and trusted individual in the music industry in Newfoundland and the East Coast. Under the Citadel House Record Label, he has worked with Ana & Eric, Ana Luisa Ramos, Clare Follett, Terry Penney, Nick Earle, Rosemary Lawton, Christian Howse, Earle and Coffin, Adam Baxter, Tonia Evans Cianciulli, Daughter of the Moon, Cassidy Rich, Hayley Taylor, Rachel Troke and Victoria Cooper. Prior to establishing a record label, some of the hard working and award winning independent artists that Dean worked with include, Terry Penney, Dan Bursey, Irene Bridger, Ada Piercey Jenkins and The Split Peas.  Each of these individuals brought value to their musical market, and to the reputation of the Citadel House. 

Dean collaborates with musicians from all over the world to produce content that is heard in every major international market. He has been a Beta Tester for Waves Audio Inc from Israel, Babelson Audio from France, and WaveLab from Belgium, helping to produce cutting edge software for today's musician. 

His work has garnered many nominations and awards for his artists as well as himself.  Dean is passionate about getting it right and works to a very high tolerance. He has been working in the music industry of Newfoundland full time since 2001, and since that time has been a major contributor to 15 MusicNL and Canadian Folk Music Association(CFMA) winning projects, and another 60 MusicNL, Canadian Gospel Music Association(CGMA), CFMA and ECMA nominations. Of those, Dean has personally received the MusicNL Industry Builder and Industry Professional of the Year, as well as 9 Nominations from the ECMAs and MusicNL for Industry Professional, Studio Engineer, and Side Musician of the Year.

Dean often explains to folks that working in the music industry in Newfoundland and Labrador is like prospecting for gold and the nuggets are everywhere. He considers himself very fortunate to be working in this industry in this part of the world.