LOS ANGELES (CelebrityAccess MediaWire) — Industry veteran Craig Redden, vice president of the newly-formed Epic Production Technologies died on November 20th after apparently suffering a massive heart attack. At the time, Craig was on vacation in Los Angeles with his family.
Craig was born on February 6, 1956 in Sudbury, Ontario and moved to Winnipeg in 1976 to study psychology and pursue a career in psychiatric patient care. Among the new friends he met in his adopted home were members of a local band who enlisted him to help out with sound and lights for an upcoming gig. In the summer of 1978 he stopped into a newly opened equipment rental shop called Westsun Media and formed an immediate friendship with the company's founder Marc Raymond, who later invited him to join the company full-time. After years of learning, touring and teching every kind of event in North America including the Calgary Winter Olympics Closing Ceremonies, Craig took on a well-earned management role at what had now become Westsun International, ultimately leading to a move to Toronto and the position of Senior Account Manager.
In 2002 Craig rejoined Marc in Winnipeg at newly formed Q1 Production Technologies as Vice President Rentals where he focused on US and International business growth as well as overseeing major tour and event projects. He took a special interest in the growth of the annual dual-coast Trans-Siberian Orchestra tours, working closely with the management and artists behind TSO to help create the extravagant lighting and production that became an entertainment phenomenon. A genuine 'people person', Craig turned many of his clients into long-time friends and nowhere was this more evident than in his relationships with the entire TSO team. In a recent newspaper interview TSO founder Paul O'Neill said "I consider Craig as much a member of the band as any lead singer or myself." Craig in turn considered his involvement with TSO to be one of his greatest personal and career achievements.
Epic Chairman & CEO Marc Raymond issued the following statement about his long-time friend and collaborator: "For all of us who knew and worked with Craig, we have lost a tireless colleague and a great friend with a dry wit and boisterous personality. For me personally, I have lost someone who has not only been a close friend for over thirty years, but a man who has been my source of inspiration in more ways than he ever knew. With his eternal optimism and unwavering loyalty, he has been a cornerstone of the personal and professional successes of so many of the people whose lives he touched. We have been uplifted by the incredible outpouring of sympathy and support from Craig's friends and colleagues around the world, and can only hope that in his lifetime he knew how very much loved and admired he was."
An evening in memory and celebration of Craig's life will be held December 8th at 7:00pm at the Burton Cummings Theatre, 364 Smith Street, Winnipeg Manitoba. All family, friends and fans are invited to attend. A fund has been established in his memory and those who wish to add a contribution can make it to: Epic/Craig Redden Memorial Fund and forward it to our Winnipeg office at 885 King Edward Street Winnipeg, MB CANADA R3H 0P8
, attention David Budzak. – CelebrityAccess Staff Writers
