In the early 70s, Fairbairn started producing when he was part of the Vancouver band jazz-rock group Sunshyne, on which he played both trumpet and horn.
During the mixing sessions for Yes' The Ladder, on May 17, 1999, Fairbairn was found dead by Yes singer Jon Anderson and Armoury manager Sheryl Preston in his Vancouver home.
In 1980, Fairbairn won his first of three Canadian music industry Producer of the Year Juno Awards for Prism's third album Armageddon.
In March 2000, Fairbairn was posthumously awarded the Canadian Music Hall of Fame Juno Award for his work.
Fairbairn played the trumpet since the age of 5, as well as studying the piano.