A journey that began in Niagara clubs 25 years ago has brought Joel Zimmerman to Canadian Music Week’s Music Industry Hall of Fame. The Niagara Falls-born DJ/producer, known globally as Deadmau5, joins Canadian icons such as Jann Arden and Tom Cochrane in the hall. A ceremony takes place June 4 at Toronto’s Westin Harbour Castle Hotel during Canadian Music Week (June 1 to 8) .
As part of the event, Zimmerman will participate in a fireside chat at 3 p.m. that day with Billboard’s Richard Trapunski, delving into his career as one of EDM’s most influential and successful artists.
To complete the week, Zimmerman’s other alter ego, Testpilot , will perform with Jauz during the festival June 1 at Rebel (11 Polson St., Toronto) at 10 p.m.
A three-time Juno Award winner and seven-time Grammy nominee, Deadmau5 built a local following before exploding in the emerging EDM scene in the late 2000s. Classic tracks “ Ghosts ‘n Stuff ,” “ Some Chords ” and “ The Veldt ” are industry standards. He also founded the prominent indie label mau5trap, launching the careers of Skrillex and REZZ.
In his hometown, the former Westlane Secondary School student has been a Canada Day parade marshal, received the key to the city and was inducted into the Niagara Falls Arts and Culture Wall of Fame. Outside of music, Zimmerman is co-founder of the gaming venture PIXELYNX and is executive of the HD streaming platform StreamVoodoo. Founded in 1981, Canadian Music Week is a yearly gathe.
