ABOUT


Darryl has an historic legacy as a performer, composer, producer, engineer and mixer.

He was the drummer in 54/40 from 1982-86. He co-composed and performed on several Canadian hits while with the band, one of which (I Go Blind) became a top ten hit in the US in 1997.

Upon leaving 54/40, Darryl pursued a career in music production and engineering, culminating in albums that achieved gold and platinum status in the US and Canada (Sarah McLachlan, 54/40, Blue Rodeo), one of which won a Juno award (The New Pornographers).

In the 1990's, Darryl started Miller Block Studio on Hastings Street in downtown east-side Vancouver with the band Copyright and Jim Carrico. During that decade a plethora of indie rock, electronic, dub, punk and alt country albums were made with Darryl at the console. Perhaps most notable was his work co-producing all of Neko Case's albums and working with the earliest incarnation of the New Pornographers.

In the late '90's Darryl toured with Copyright on keyboards as well as the US and Europe making experimental improvised electronic music with Mark Spybey's Dead Voices on Air project. In 2001, Darryl moved to Ontario where he founded Operation Northwoods Recording.

In 2009, Neko Case’s Middle Cyclone, which Darryl did engineering on, mixed and co-produced, debuted at number 3 on Billboard in the US, was awarded “Best Album of the Year” on Amazon.com, and received two Grammy nominations. In addition, in 2009, Darryl engineered the Blue Rodeo double album, The Things We Left Behind, which went platinum in early 2010.

These two albums earned Darryl a 2010 Juno nomination for Engineer of the Year.

In 2013, Darryl co-produced and co-mixed Neko Case's The Worse Things Get, the Harder I Fight, the Harder I Fight, the More I Love You,  which debuted at number 12 on Billboard and received a Grammy nomination for Best Alternative Music Album 2014.


Awards, Etc.

GRAMMY NOMINATION

Best Alternative Music Album 2014
 
NEKO CASE The Worse Things Get, the Harder I Fight, the Harder I Fight, the More I Love You

ANTI~
GRAMMY NOMINATION

Best Contemporary Folk Album 2010
 
NEKO CASE Middle Cyclone

ANTI~
JUNO NOMINATION

Engineer of the Year 2010
 
NEKO CASE Middle Cyclone

ANTI~
JUNO NOMINATION

Engineer of the Year 2010
 


BLUE RODEO The Things We Left Behind

Warner
 
SOCAN

Classic Tracks Award 2010
 
5440 I Go Blind
CRIA Certified Canadian Platinum 2010 BLUE RODEO The Things We Left Behind

Warner
 JUNO AWARD

Best Alternative Album 2000
THE NEW PORNOGRAPHERS Mass Romantic

Mint / Matador
 
 ASCAP AWARD

Among the most performed songs of 1997
HOOTIE AND THE BLOWFISH I Go Blind
 RIAA Certified US Platinum HOOTIE AND THE BLOWFISH I Go Blind
CRIA certified Canadian Platinum

RIAA certified US Gold
SARAH MCLACHLAN Touch
CRIA certified Canadian Gold
 

 

JILL BARBER Chances
Inductee - Canadian Songwriter's Hall of Fame
 

 

 

 

 

54-40 - I Go Blind