Hall of Fame Inductees

We are proud of all Hall of Fame Inductees and their contribution to Canadian country music. Click on the Inductee name for more information.

Sam Sniderman

  • Inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame in 1997
  • Birth: June 15, 1920 - Toronto, Ontario
  • Death: September 23, 2012

BIOGRAPHY:

Sam Sniderman has been selling music in Canada since 1937; from his humble beginnings in his brother’s radio store to national recognition as Sam the Record Man, Sniderman became one of the best-known music retailers in Canadian history.

Originally started as a small store on College Street in downtown Toronto by brother Sidney in 1929, Sniderman introduced the sale of records in 1937, which eventually became the backbone of the business. In 1961, Sam the Record Man was opened in downtown Toronto on Yonge Street.

With his colourful personality and active support of dozens of music industry organizations, combined with his tireless promotion of Canadian music, Sniderman has set an example for every executive in every aspect of the Canadian music industry.  Sniderman made possible the recording archive at the University of Toronto, Faculty of Music Library. He has been on the CNE Grandstands attractions committee, a director of CARAS, a member of the Federal Cultural Policy Review Committee, the Mariposa Advisory committee and the ECMA. Sniderman was made a member of the Order of Canada in 1976 and was honoured with the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award for voluntarism in 1999 and an industry builder award from the ECMAs in 2001.


Sam passed away on Spetember 23, 2012 at the age of 92.




HALL OF FAME INDUCTION:


Sam Sniderman was inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame at the 1997 Canadian Country Music Association Awards: