Richard Mattson was born in Woodstock, Ontario and came by his country roots honestly via his family farm. His first music teacher was his father William while playing and singing along his dad’s records of Hank Snow, Wilf Carter, Johnny Cash and George Jones. Through his older siblings’ records and their own talents and during high school Richard discovered the excitement of rock & roll while listening to Elvis, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the Clash, Yes, ZZ Top, Bob Seger and Bruce Springsteen. This all added to Richard’s dance band playing starting at sixteen.

In high school Richard added saxophone to his guitar and harmonica playing skills, which continued at Mohawk College and York University while studying saxophone and music. At this time Richard was playing 40 - 45 weekends a year in a number of country bands such as The Band True Blue and Terry Sumsion (whom he still performs with) in the Hamilton - Toronto area.

Richard finished his schooling at the Faculty of Education at the University of Windsor receiving his degree in 1995 and has been teaching for the Peel District School Board since September 2001.

More recently Richard has joined forces with Dan McVeigh’s North of 49 as the lead guitarist, harmony vocals, harmonica and saxophone player.

Richard blends his country guitar picking with his soothing saxophone, harmonica and vocals to take the Ron Nater Band’s Chicago style electric blues & vintage tunes to a new level and makes his home in Mississauga, Ontario.