Daniel Lanois was born in September 19, 1951 in Hull, (Quebec). He is a Canadian record producer, guitarist and singer-songwriter. He has released a number of albums of his own work and has produced albums for a wide variety of artists, including Bob Dylan, The Parachute Club, U2, Brian Eno, Peter Gabriel, Emmylou Harris, Scott Weiland, Robbie Robertson, the Neville Brothers, Chris Whitley, Ron Sexsmith, Martha and the Muffins and Nash the Slash.

He started his production career working in his own studio with his brother Bob Lanois in the basement of their mother's Ancaster, Ontario home. The most notable artist to record in their basement studio was Simply Saucer. Later Daniel would create a studio in an old house he purchased known as Grant Avenue Studios in Hamilton, Ontario.

Lanois worked collaboratively with Brian Eno on some of Eno's own projects, one of which was the theme song for David Lynch's film adaptation of "Frank Herbert's Dune". His career was given a huge boost when Eno invited him to co-produce U2's album "The Unforgettable Fire". Along with Eno, he went on to produce U2's "The Joshua Tree", the 1987 Grammy Winner for Album of the Year.

He worked with Brian Eno and Steve Lillywhite again on the twelfth album by U2 to be released on 2 March 2009. Lanois premiered a documentary entitled "Here Is What Is" at the Toronto Film Festival on September 9th, 2007. The film, co-produced by Adam Vollick, includes footage of the actual recording of the album bearing the same name. The film also shows Lanois usual collaboators such as Emmylou Harris, Billy Bob Thornton, U2, Brian Eno and Brian Blade. There are also guest appearances by Garth Hudson and Brady Blade Sr. Subsequent concert performances showcasing the new material were held in Toronto on the 10th and 11th, with Brian Blade on drums.

The CD "Here Is What Is" was released in the spring of 2008. Lanois had previously made it available as a high-quality web download, via his new Red Floor Records label.