Sam The Record Man passes on!

[Johnny Vinyl]

I used to love visiting the downtown store. Sam was a great guy and very personable. I don't know how many Saturday mornings I spent there looking for treasures or the latest vinyl release.

Thanks Sam!

Sam Sniderman, founder of the legendary Sam The Record Man, has died in Toronto. His Yonge Street store was a mecca for music lovers for nearly 50 years.


Sniderman will forever be known by the name he chose for his landmark store - Sam the Record Man.
A statement from the family released early Monday noted that Sniderman will be remembered as a giant in the Canadian music business.

"Sam was the last of the great Canadian showmen that were able to establish themselves as household names purely through the force of their personality," said close family friend Brian Robertson in the statement.
"He was a mentor to literally hundreds of Canadian artists and musicians, and the Yonge Street record store and Sam's presence there was the centre of the Canadian music industry's universe for over three decades."
Sniderman passed away "peacefully in his sleep, surrounded by loved ones," the statement said. He was 92.
His career in the Canadian music business started when he began selling records out of his brother Sid's radio store on College Street.
In 1959 he opened his record store on Yonge Street.
One of his sons said Sniderman began selling records for the same reason many young men do things: to impress a girl who was a music lover.
"That story of love has turned into this overall labour of love we all have for this store," he told CBC News in an earlier interview.
The Yonge Street store remained as a flashing neon beacon for music aficionados for nearly half a century.
Eventually Sam the Record Man stores would dot the country.
But the Yonge Street store officially closed on June 30, 2007 - a victim of the digital age,
"We can't compete with what's happening in technology," Bobby Sniderman said at the time.
But Sam the Record Man's had already become a cultural touchstone for millions of record fans and would become part of Toronto's music history.
The Yonge Street store became a hangout for everyone who loved music in Toronto. The store's bins overflowed with everything from the latest pop and rock, to blues, classical, folk and traditional.
Customers would spend hours thumbing through the vinyl records.
The store's annual Boxing Day sale was legendary. Large crowds would line up, snaking down Yonge Street, for hours before the store opened, hoping to get a bargain.
Ryerson to preserve sign
Sniderman's Sam the Record Man neon sign also became a landmark in the city. It towered over Yonge Street and quickly became a symbol of the street.
Ryerson University eventually acquired the property. The university also owns the iconic neon sign and has promised to preserve it.
A major promoter of Canadian music, Sniderman received the Order of Canada in 1976.
He was also inducted into the Canadian Music Industry Hall of Fame and the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame.
Sniderman himself retired from the record store business in 2000.
The family said in the statement that they are planning a memorial service in October. The date will be announced at a later time.

 

[Steve williams]

I went to med school with two of his sons. I bought all my music there when I lived in Toronto and when I visited, any trip to Yonge Street resulted in a visit to Sam's

 

[Johnny Vinyl]

I have many happy memories from Sam's and A&A as well. And in Montreal it was Phantasmagoria. Sadly all of them are gone. A shame really as I used to bump into people I didn't know, but recognized them from previous visits. We'd start chatting and rummaging.......good times!

 

[Steve williams]

A&A is gone as well as Sam The Record Man

 

[Odyno]

Between A&A and Sam's there was enough there for any music lover to reach nirvana....
You can also add Peter Dunn's Vinyl Museum that was close to those two!

 

[MylesBAstor]

A&A is gone as well as Sam The Record Man

 

[Johnny Vinyl]

^^^ Thanks for posting that Myles! Sure brings back memories!

 

[Odyno]

here a print screen of Google Earth of what it is now.....

 

[Johnny Vinyl]

^^^ Kinda sad, isn't it? Ryerson, the new owners, have committed to keeping the large neon sign and restoring it. It will be interesting to see where they display it. Hopefully it'll be in this new renovated building.

 

[Steve williams]

Ryerson must be huge now

 

[Johnny Vinyl]

Ryerson must be huge now

Their complex on the East Mall ( or is it The West Mall?)...always get those confused ....is really substantial.