Jackie Richardson

Jackie Richardson has a voice that inspires Canadians. A legendary singer of blues, jazz, and gospel, she has graced the stage and screen as an award-winning film, television, and musical theatre actress, with leading roles in record-breaking productions. Throughout her career, having recognized the importance of the transformative power of music, Jackie was determined to share that knowledge through mentorship and the nurturing of young talent such as those at Toronto’s Regent Park School of Music. A faithful community leader through her volunteering and support efforts, she devotes her heart and voice to numerus charitable organizations and initiatives.

Jackie is an award-winning singer and actor whose career spans more than five decades. She has been called Canada’s reigning queen of jazz, blues and gospel, and has received a Maple Blues Award for lifetime achievement. She is also a Gemini Award and Dora Award-winning actor who has appeared in numerous musical theatre productions, films and television series. In 2014, the Toronto Star named Richardson one of 180 people who have helped shaped the city since it was founded. She was made an Honorary Member of the Order of Canada in 2021. 

Richardson made her professional singing debut at age 16 when she joined the Toronto-based R&B group The Tiaras alongside her sister Betty. Richardson joined the group as a choreographer until her voice was strong enough to sing with the band. She went on to perform with an African group at Expo 67 in Montreal. She then briefly toured with a lineup of the American doo-wop group The Platters. She also became a regular performer at Canadian Forces Bases across Canada and around the world.

Throughout her career, Richardson has sung on a number of high-profile recordings, including: Joe Sealy’s Juno Award-winning album Africville Suite (1996); Anne Murray’s What a Wonderful World: 26 Inspirational Classics (1999); Norm Amadio’s Norm Amadio and Friends (2009); Peter Appleyard’s 2012 recording “Georgia”; David Clayton-Thomas’s “Freedom for the Stallion” (2015); and Micah Barnes’s “New York Story Duet” (2016). She has also collaborated with numerous acts on stage, including the Toronto Symphony Orchestra.