Richard Gagnon studied music at the Cégep de Saint-Laurent. The trombonist followed up with studies at McGill University and private lessons, first with Ted Griffith and later, with Muhammad Abdul Al-Khabyyr and Steve Davis, of New York. A seasoned performer, composer, arranger and producer, he's played with La Bottine Souriante, Céline Dion, and Aretha Franklin. In 1998, he formed the Richard Gagnon Quintet, and released À coeur ouvert (2000) and Influence (2002). His next ensemble, Richard Gagnon Trombones Actions, also put out two albums: Intro (2006) and Suite (2010), which features Steve Davis. Gagnon has performed at the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal with artists such as the Vic Vogel, Guy Nadon, and Lorraine Desmarais.