Sam Sniderman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sam Sniderman
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The Record Man shown in his flagship store in 1979 with stacks of records.
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| Born | June 15, 1920 |
| Died | September 23, 2012 (aged 92) Toronto, Ontario
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| Resting place | Mount Sinai Memorial Park, Toronto |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Other names | Sam the Record Man |
| Occupation | Entrepreneur |
| Known for | Founder of Sam the Record Man retail chain Promoter of Canadian music and leading advocate for Canadian content broadcast policies. |
| Awards | Order of Canada |
Sam Sniderman (June 15, 1920 – September 23, 2012) was a Canadian businessman. He is famous for starting the record store chain called Sam the Record Man. Sam also strongly supported Canadian music. He helped create rules for radio stations to play more Canadian songs. He also helped start the Juno Awards, which celebrate Canadian music.
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Early Life and Business
Sam Sniderman was born in Toronto, Ontario. He grew up in a part of Toronto called Kensington Market.
He went to high school at Harbord Collegiate Institute. In 1936, he started selling music records. He worked at his brother Sidney's store, which was called Sniderman Radio Sales and Service.
Starting Sam the Record Man
In 1959, Sam opened his very first record store. It was on Yonge Street in Toronto. In 1961, he moved his main store to a famous spot at 347 Yonge Street. This store became well-known for its bright neon signs.
Later, in 1969, Sam began to let other people open Sam the Record Man stores. This is called "franchising." It meant more stores could open across Canada.
Retirement and Legacy
Sam Sniderman retired in the year 2000. He passed the business to his sons, Bobby and Jason. His nieces, Lana and Arna, also took over.
The main Sam the Record Man store in Toronto closed in 2007. Its unique front, with the big neon signs, was saved. The city said it was an important historical site.
After the store closed, Ryerson University (now Toronto Metropolitan University) bought the property. Today, only one Sam the Record Man store is still open. It is in Belleville, Ontario, Canada.
Awards and Helping Canadian Music
Sam Sniderman received many awards for his work. He was a big supporter of Canadian artists and their music.
Order of Canada
On October 20, 1976, Sam was given the Order of Canada. This is one of the highest honors a Canadian can receive. He was recognized for creating a large music archive at the University of Toronto. This archive helps save Canadian music history. He was also honored for always supporting Canadian talent.
Other Recognitions
In 1997, Sam Sniderman was added to the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame. He kept working in the Canadian music world until he passed away.
Sam believed in collecting as much music as possible. He started the Sniderman Sound Recording Archive at the University of Toronto. He wanted it to be "as big as possible."
In 1999, Sam received another special award. It was for his volunteer work in the performing arts. This award recognized his endless support for Canadian musicians.
Family in Music
Sam's son, Jason Sniderman, is a musician. He also worked as an executive for Sam the Record Man. Another son, Bobby Sniderman, owns a restaurant called The Senator. Sam's grandson, Cos Sylvan, is also a Canadian musician.
