Matthew Gerrard is a

Canadian Canadians (french: Canadiens) are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of ...

record producer A record producer is a recording project's creative and technical leader, commanding studio time and coaching artists, and in popular genres typically creates the song's very sound and structure. Virgil Moorefield"Introduction" ''The Producer as ...

and

songwriter A songwriter is a musician who professionally composes musical compositions or writes lyrics for songs, or both. The writer of the music for a song can be called a composer, although this term tends to be used mainly in the classical music ...

Biography

Gerrard grew up in

Don Mills Don Mills is a mixed-use neighbourhood in the North York district of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was developed to be a self-supporting "new town" and was at the time located outside Toronto proper. In 1998, North York, including the Don Mills com ...

, a suburb of Toronto's north-east end. He attended George S. Henry Secondary School where he played trombone in band, later playing bass in a school-based 5-piece jazz fusion combo called Nemesis Fusion. Nemesis Fusion competed in two Canadian stage band festivals earning silver in 1982 and won the competition the following year when Gerrard wrote the group's original material. After high school Gerrard was a member of a band called Regatta, which released one self-titled album. He also played bass and toured with

Kim Mitchell Joseph Kim Mitchell (born July 10, 1952) is a Canadian rock musician. He was the lead singer and guitarist for the band Max Webster before going on to a solo career. His 1984 single, " Go for Soda", was his only charted song on the US ''Billbo ...

(former

Max Webster Max Webster was a Canadian hard rock band formed in Toronto in 1972. The band's founder, Kim Mitchell, enjoyed a long and successful solo career in their native Canada. Biography Initially a trio for their first gigs in December 1972, the ori ...

lead man) and Von Groove (until the late 1990s/early 2000s).

Career

Gerrard has written hit singles by artists such as Nick Carter (" Help Me"),

Kelly Clarkson Kelly Brianne Clarkson (born April 24, 1982) is an American singer, songwriter, author, and television personality. She rose to fame after winning the first season of ''American Idol'' in 2002, which earned her a record deal with RCA. Her debu ...

(" Breakaway"),

Hilary Duff Hilary Erhard Duff (born September 28, 1987) is an American actress and singer. She is the recipient of various accolades, including seven Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards, four Teen Choice Awards and two Young Artist Awards. She began her acti ...

(" I Can't Wait", " Why Not?"),

Eden's Crush Eden's Crush was an American girl group who were created on the American television series ''Popstars'' which aired on the now defunct WB. The group was formed in late 2000 and released the hit song "Get Over Yourself" in 2001, following the f ...

("Get Over Yourself") and

Jesse McCartney Jesse McCartney (born April 9, 1987) is an American actor and singer. He achieved fame in the late 1990s on the daytime drama ''All My Children'' as JR Chandler. He later joined boy band Dream Street, and eventually branched out into a solo m ...

(" She's No You"). He contributed songs to the soundtracks of the Disney Channel films ''

High School Musical ''High School Musical'' is a 2006 American musical television film directed by Kenny Ortega and written by Peter Barsocchini. The 63rd Disney Channel Original Movie (DCOM) and first installment of the ''High School Musical'' film series, ...

'', ''

The Cheetah Girls 2 ''The Cheetah Girls 2'' (also known as ''The Cheetah Girls: When In Spain'' in the working title) is a 2006 American film and the sequel to the Disney Channel Original Movie (DCOM), ''The Cheetah Girls.'' Directed by Kenny Ortega, the ...

'' (both 2006), ''

Jump In! ''Jump In!'' is a 2007 Disney Channel Original Movie, which premiered on January 12, 2007. It was released on Disney Channel UK on April 27, 2007. The film, starring Corbin Bleu and Keke Palmer, revolves around a young boxer, Izzy Daniels (Bleu ...

'' (2007) and ''

Camp Rock ''Camp Rock'' is a 2008 American musical television film directed by Matthew Diamond from a screenplay by Karin Gist, Regina Hicks, Julie Brown, and Paul Brown. The 73rd Disney Channel Original Movie (DCOM), the film stars Demi Lovato, Joe Jo ...

'' (2008) and to the series '' Hannah Montana'' television soundtrack. He also wrote the original music for the

Nickelodeon Nickelodeon (often shortened to Nick) is an American pay television channel which launched on April 1, 1979, as the first cable channel for children. It is run by Paramount Global through its networks division's Kids and Family Group. It ...

television movie ''

Spectacular! ''Spectacular!'' is a 2009 musical comedy-drama film that aired on Nickelodeon and YTV. It stars Canadian singer Nolan Gerard Funk, Australian singer Tammin Sursok, Victoria Justice and Simon Curtis with Matthew Bennett, Andrea Lewis, Shannon ...

'', as well as writing the self-titled-debut song for ''

Big Time Rush ''Big Time Rush'' is an American musical sitcom television series created by Scott Fellows that originally aired on Nickelodeon from November 28, 2009, to July 25, 2013 and is currently available in Paramount+. It focuses on the Hollywood misa ...

''.

Writing discography

Bratz Bratz is an American fashion doll and media franchise created by former Mattel employee Carter Bryant for MGA Entertainment which debuted in 2001. The four original 10-inch (25 cm) dolls were released on May 21, 2001 — Yasmin, Cloe, Jade ...

Brooke McClymont Brooke Maree McClymont (born 16 May 1981) is an Australian singer, songwriter and guitarist. With her two younger sisters, Samantha and Mollie, she is a founder of a country music trio, the McClymonts. She has written songs for Kate DeAraugo an ...

and

" I Can't Wait" *

Why Not Why Not may refer to: Film and TV * '' Why Not? with Shania Twain'', an American TV show * '' Pourquoi pas!'' (''Why Not!''), a 1977 French film starring Sami Frey * ''Why Not?'', a 2019 short thriller movie directed by Buğra Mert Alkayalar ...

", "Do You Want Me?" *

Tiffani Wood Tiffany may refer to: People * Tiffany (given name), list of people with this name * Tiffany (surname), list of people with this surname Known mononymously as "Tiffany": * Tiffany Darwish, (born 1971), an American singer, songwriter, actress know ...

" What R U Waiting 4" * Tara Priya "Black Coffee" *

" B.T.R" *

(writer and producer), "Who Will I Be", "Start the Party" (with

Robbie Nevil Robert S. Nevil (born October 2, 1958) is an American pop singer, songwriter, producer, and guitarist who had five ''Billboard'' top 40 hits including his songs "C'est la Vie" (#2, 1986), "Dominoes" (#14, 1987), and " Wot's It to Ya" (#10, 198 ...

) *

Christy Carlson Romano Christy Carlson Romano (born March 20, 1984) is an American actress and singer. She is known for playing Ren Stevens on ''Even Stevens'' and voicing the titular character from '' Kim Possible'', both of which aired on the Disney Channel. Earl ...

"Dive In" *

Corbin Bleu Corbin Bleu Reivers (; born February 21, 1989), known professionally as Corbin Bleu, is an American actor and singer. He made his acting debut in the 2004 adventure comedy film '' Catch That Kid''. He has since appeared in the Discovery Kids d ...

" Push It to the Limit," "Celebrate You," "We Come To Party," "Never Met A Girl Like You," "If She Says Yeah" * The Cheetah Girls " Five More Days 'til Christmas," "The Perfect Christmas", "

Cheetah-licious Christmas ''Cheetah-licious Christmas'' is a Christmas album by the Cheetah Girls. It is also the first album the girls released as an official musical group; however, group member Adrienne Bailon later stated that the album does not serve as their offic ...

", "Christmas In California", "No Ordinary Christmas," "The Simple Things," " The Party's Just Begun," " Step Up," "Human," " One World," " Dance Me If You Can" (with

) * Delta Goodrem " Lost Without You", " Be Strong" *

Seiko , commonly known as Seiko ( , ), is a Japanese maker of watches, clocks, electronic devices, semiconductors, jewelry, and optical products. Founded in 1881 by Kintarō Hattori in Tokyo, Seiko introduced one of the first quartz watches and the ...

"Let's Fall in Love Again" *

" Get Over Yourself" * Elva Hsiao "

Diamond Candy ''Diamond Candy'' () is the tenth studio album by Taiwanese singer Elva Hsiao (), released on 9 October 2009 by Gold Typhoon Gold Typhoon Group is a Chinese entertainment company. Gold Label was founded in 2004 in Hong Kong, launched with the ...

", "

" *

Everlife Everlife was an American pop rock band made up of three sisters, Amber, Sarah, and Julia Ross who formed in early 2001. History Everlife originated in Indiana, Pennsylvania. The band was formed in the winter of 1997 with Sarah on the drums, ...

"Faded" *

Koda Kumi , known professionally as , is a Japanese singer from Kyoto, known for her urban and R&B songs. After debuting with the single " Take Back" in December 2000, Koda gained fame in March 2003 when the songs from her seventh single, " Real Emot ...

" Just The Way You Are" * Nick Carter " Help Me" * Nina "Where Is Love" *

Jordan Mccoy ''American Juniors'' is an American reality television singing competition series that was broadcast for one season from June 3 to August 19, 2003, on Fox. The series was a spin-off of ''American Idol'', but with younger contestants. The show h ...

"Just Watch Me", "Life's An Open Door" *

Miley Cyrus Miley Ray Cyrus ( ; born Destiny Hope Cyrus on November 23, 1992) is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. Known for her distinctive raspy voice, her music spans across varied styles and genres, including pop, country, rock, hip ho ...

" Best of Both Worlds", " Nobody's Perfect", "Life's What You Make It" and other various (with

) *

" We're All in This Together," " What Time Is It?", "All For One", "I Don't Dance ", "Start Of Something New", " Now or Never", " I Want It All", "A Night to Remember", "The Boys Are Back", "High School Musical", "I Can't Take My Eyes of You" (with

) *

" Breakaway" *

Jacky Cheung Jacky Cheung Hok-yau (born 10 July 1961) is a Hong Kong singer and actor. Dubbed the " God of Songs", he is regarded as one of the Four Heavenly Kings of Hong Kong pop music. Cheung is known for his technically skilled vocals, lengthy tours, and ...

"Wonderful To Fly" * Jessica Simpson "Underneath" (2003) *

Raven-Symoné Raven-Symoné Christina Pearman-Maday () (née Pearman; born December 10, 1985), also known mononymously as Raven, is an American actress, singer, and songwriter. She has received several accolades, including five NAACP Image Awards, two Kids' ...

(producer), " This Is My Time", "Typical, Bump, Mystify" *

Kate Alexa Kate Alexa GudinskiCameron Adams "Kate Alexa speaks to us"< ...

" Not Another Love Song" *

Hawk Nelson Hawk Nelson is a Canadian rock band from Peterborough, Ontario. Formed in 2000, the band has released eight studio albums to date. History Early independent releases (2000–2003) In 2000, Dunn, Clark, and Paige founded a Peterborough-based gr ...

"Just Like Me", "Meaning Of Life" * David Archuleta " A Little Too Not Over You", "Zero Gravity" * Jonas Brothers "Drive" from '' Jonas L.A.'' *

Mike Doughty Michael Ross Doughty ( ; born June 10, 1970) is an American singer-songwriter and author. He founded the band Soul Coughing in 1992, and as of '' The Heart Watches While the Brain Burns'' (2016), has released 18 studio albums, live albums, and ...

"Na Na Nothing" *

J-Min Oh Ji-Min (born May 27, 1988), known professionally as J-Min( ja, ジェイミン), is a South Korean singer, songwriter and musical actress. She began her career in Japan before eventually debuting in South Korea. Career 2007–2009: Debut ...

"If You Want" (with

Bridget Benenate Bridget Benenate is an American songwriter. She first found success in her song "Permission To Shine", which was performed by the band Bachelor Girl. The same year Bridget's song "Everything Changes" was featured on '' Dawson’s Creek''. In 200 ...

) *

Jeannie Ortega Jeannette "Jeannie" Ortega (born November 19, 1986) is an American singer, songwriter, dancer, actress, writer, and journalist. She made her recording debut in 2006 with the album ''No Place Like BKLYN'' at the age of 19. The album featured the h ...

(Singer/Songwriter),

, "Live it Up" *

Reece Mastin Reece Mastin (born 24 November 1994) is an English-born Australian singer and songwriter who won the third season of ''The X Factor Australia'' in 2011. Mastin subsequently signed with Sony Music Australia. His debut single " Good Night" reac ...

"She's A Killer" from

Beautiful Nightmare (album) ''Beautiful Nightmare'' is the second studio album by British-Australian recording artist Reece Mastin, released on 19 October 2012, by Sony Music Australia. It is the follow-up to Mastin's self-titled debut album, and his first albu ...

(2012)

References

*Kawashima, Dale
"Matthew Gerrard Co-Writes & Produces Big Hits For ''High School Musical'' Soundtrack and Other Artists"
''Songwriter Universe''.

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Gerrard, Matthew Living people Canadian guitarists Canadian record producers Canadian songwriters Musicians from Toronto 21st-century Canadian pianists Year of birth missing (living people)