Mark Moffatt, the acclaimed Australian guitarist, producer, and engineer known for his work with prominent artists including The Saints, Keith Urban, Tim Finn, and Yothu Yindi, passed away on Friday, September 6, after a year-long battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 74.
Moffatt’s impact on the music industry is unparalleled. He holds the record for producing more tracks featured in the APRA Top 30 Australian songs than any other single producer, a list published in 2001 to mark the PRO’s 75th anniversary. Additionally, he produced an impressive 15 ARIA Hall of Fame inductees.
Originally from Maryborough, Queensland, Moffatt began his career in Brisbane before moving to the U.K. to work on London’s Denmark Street. He returned to Brisbane in 1976, where he made a significant mark with his production of The Saints’ seminal track “(I’m) Stranded,” which played a crucial role in igniting the punk scene.
His career took him to EMI and TCS Studios in Melbourne before settling in Sydney in 1980. There, Moffatt worked as an in-house producer for Festival Records, collaborating with some of the biggest names in Australian music for over a decade.
Moffatt was instrumental in supporting young talent, including Keith Urban, and produced the iconic hit “Treaty” by Yothu Yindi. His contributions left a lasting legacy in both Australian and global music scenes, with ARIA noting, “Mark gave life to sounds that defined generations.”
In 1996, Moffatt relocated to Nashville and served as APRA AMCOS’ inaugural Nashville member relations representative from 2014 until his retirement in June 2024. During his tenure, he was honored with the CMA Global Achievement Award.
APRA AMCOS described him as “a legend of our industry” and “a kind and wonderful person to have known.”
At the time of his death, Moffatt was completing an album for KILO, a band he formed with Australian rock singer John “Swanee” Swan.
A statement on his social media page highlighted that while Moffatt cherished his music, his greatest love was his family. He is survived by his wife, Lindsey, step-daughter Dana, two granddaughters, son Geordie, and extended family in Australia.
Plans for a celebration of his life will be announced in the near future.
