Background
Born in Toronto, Ontario, Sniderman grew up in its Jewish enclave known as Kensington Market.
Born in Toronto, Ontario, Sniderman grew up in its Jewish enclave known as Kensington Market.
He attended high school at Harbord Collegiate Institute and started selling records in his brother Sidney"s store, Sniderman Radio Sales and Service, in 1937.
Sniderman was also a major promoter of Canadian music including involvement in pushing for the Canadian content (CANCON) broadcast regulations and creating the Juno Awards. In 1959 he opened his first store on Toronto"s Yonge Street, and then moved it to the iconic 347 Yonge Street flagship store location in 1961. In 1969, he started franchising the store.
The flagship Toronto store that bore his name closed in 2007 and its distinctive façade was declared a heritage site by the city.
In the end, Ryerson reached a deal to purchase the property from the family. Canadian Broadcasting Company Archives in a radio interview Sam Sniderman (Sam the record man) talks about his support for Canadian content in 1971 Web Sam Sniderman at The Canadian Encyclopedia.
On October 20, 1976, he was invested into the Order of Canada. He was appointed to the Order"s third tier, Member, for "found the Recordings Archive Library at the University of Toronto, now the largest of its kind in Canada. Foreign 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 remained an active participant in the Canadian music industry until his death. 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 is "as big as possible." Sniderman spoke at the 2006 East Coast Music Awards. In 1999, Sniderman received the Ramon John Hnatyshyn Award for Voluntarism in the Performing Arts, a companion award of the Governor General"s Performing Arts Awards, for his tireless support of Canadian musicians. His son Jason Sniderman is a musician and was also an executive with Sam the Record Manitoba Another son, Bobby Sniderman, went into business for himself as proprietor of The Senator restaurant.
