Sam Sniderman
Encyclopedia
Sam Sniderman, is a Canadian
entrepreneur best known as the founder of Sam the Record Man
, the Canadian record
store chain. Sinderman was also a major promoter of Canadian music which including involvement in pushing for the Canadian content
broadcast regulations and creating the Juno Awards.
Born in Toronto, Ontario, he went to Harbord Collegiate Institute
and started selling records in his brother Sidney's store, Sniderman Radio Sales and Service, in 1937. In 1959 he opened a second store at his Yonge Street
location in Toronto. In 1969, he started franchising the store.
He retired in 2000 and turned over ownership of the business to his sons, Bobby and Jason, and Sid's daughters Lana and Arna. The flagship Toronto store that bore his name closed in 2007 and its distinctive facade was declared a heritage site by the city.
Following the closure, Sniderman expressed his support for Ryerson University
's bid to expropriate the Yonge Street property if his children and nieces failed to negotiate a deal to sell the property to the university. In the end, Ryerson reached a deal to purchase the property from the family.
. He was appointed to the Order's third tier, Member, for ""found[ing] the Recordings Archive Library at the University of Toronto, now the largest of its kind in Canada. For his constant support of Canadian talent and concern for the preservation of our cultural heritage".
Sniderman was inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame
in 1997.
Sam Sniderman himself remains an active participant in the Canadian music industry. Always a believer in the "more is more" philosophy, he established the Sniderman Sound Recording Archive at the University of Toronto's School of Music, ensuring that it’s "as big as possible."
His son Jason Sniderman
is a musician and was also an executive with Sam the Record Man.
Sniderman spoke at the 2006 East Coast Music Awards.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
entrepreneur best known as the founder of Sam the Record Man
Sam the Record Man
Sam the Record Man was a Canadian record store chain that, at one time, was Canada's largest music recording retailer. In 1982, their ads proclaimed they had "140 locations, coast to coast"....
, the Canadian record
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
store chain. Sinderman was also a major promoter of Canadian music which including involvement in pushing for the Canadian content
Canadian content
Canadian content refers to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission requirements that radio and television broadcasters must air a certain percentage of content that was at least partly written, produced, presented, or otherwise contributed to by persons from...
broadcast regulations and creating the Juno Awards.
Born in Toronto, Ontario, he went to Harbord Collegiate Institute
Harbord Collegiate Institute
Harbord Collegiate Institute is a public secondary school located in downtown Toronto, Canada. Specifically, the school is located in the Palmerston-Little Italy/The Annex neighbourhood, situated on the north side of Harbord Street, between Euclid Ave. and Manning St...
and started selling records in his brother Sidney's store, Sniderman Radio Sales and Service, in 1937. In 1959 he opened a second store at his Yonge Street
Yonge Street
Yonge Street is a major arterial route connecting the shores of Lake Ontario in Toronto to Lake Simcoe, a gateway to the Upper Great Lakes. It was formerly listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the longest street in the world at , and the construction of Yonge Street is designated an "Event of...
location in Toronto. In 1969, he started franchising the store.
He retired in 2000 and turned over ownership of the business to his sons, Bobby and Jason, and Sid's daughters Lana and Arna. The flagship Toronto store that bore his name closed in 2007 and its distinctive facade was declared a heritage site by the city.
Following the closure, Sniderman expressed his support for Ryerson University
Ryerson University
Ryerson University is a public research university located in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its urban campus is adjacent to Yonge-Dundas Square located at the busiest intersection in Downtown Toronto. The majority of its buildings are in the blocks northeast of the square in Toronto's Garden...
's bid to expropriate the Yonge Street property if his children and nieces failed to negotiate a deal to sell the property to the university. In the end, Ryerson reached a deal to purchase the property from the family.
Awards and honours
On October 20, 1976, he was invested into the Order of CanadaOrder of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
. He was appointed to the Order's third tier, Member, for ""found[ing] the Recordings Archive Library at the University of Toronto, now the largest of its kind in Canada. For his constant support of Canadian talent and concern for the preservation of our cultural heritage".
Sniderman was inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame
Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame
The Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame, located in Merritt, British Columbia, was established in 1984 to honour Canadian country music artists, builders or broadcasters, living or deceased...
in 1997.
Sam Sniderman himself remains an active participant in the Canadian music industry. Always a believer in the "more is more" philosophy, he established the Sniderman Sound Recording Archive at the University of Toronto's School of Music, ensuring that it’s "as big as possible."
His son Jason Sniderman
Jason Sniderman
Jason Sniderman is a Canadian musician and businessman. He was one of the chief executives of Sam the Record Man, which was established by his father, Sam Sniderman.-Music career:...
is a musician and was also an executive with Sam the Record Man.
Sniderman spoke at the 2006 East Coast Music Awards.
Multimedia
- CBC Archives in a radio interview Sam Sniderman (Sam the record manSam the Record ManSam the Record Man was a Canadian record store chain that, at one time, was Canada's largest music recording retailer. In 1982, their ads proclaimed they had "140 locations, coast to coast"....
) talks about his support for CANCON in 1971
Web
- Sam Sniderman at The Canadian EncyclopediaThe Canadian EncyclopediaThe Canadian Encyclopedia is a source of information on Canada. It is available online, at no cost. The Canadian Encyclopedia is available in both English and French and includes some 14,000 articles in each language on a wide variety of subjects including history, popular culture, events, people,...