Sam “The Record Man” Sniderman Dies at 92

Stepping away from our usual format, we would like to pay our respects to Sam “The Record Man” Sniderman

Sniderman was best known for his family business, Sam The Record Man, which thrived at 347 Yonge St. for four decades and spawned 130 other retail locations across Canada. A landmark in downtown Toronto, the store’s neon glow and graffiti-crusted walls became things of lore in the Toronto music scene when the company shut down in 2007.

Sniderman’s passion for spreading Canadian music started in his youth; he began selling records out of his brother’s radio shop in 1937 at the age of 17. Sniderman’s family fostered the young man’s love for music, eventually changing the name of their College St. store, Snider Radio Sales, to Sam The Record Man in the mid 1950s.

In 1961, Sam The Record Man moved to its iconic Yonge St. location. It was there that the legendary music vault became a musicians’ hangout. It was the place to be on Boxing Day, with a multitude of gimmicks and giveaways, and for midnight record releases. Indeed, the 40,000 square foot library of LPs, 45s, reel-to-reels, eight-tracks, cassettes and CDs quickly became one of Toronto’s defining landmarks. - Read more: http://www.thestar.com/news/obituary/article/1261272--sam-the-record-man-founder-sam-sniderman-dies-at-92

Sam The Record Man, which thrived at 347 Yonge St. Toronto was the place to go to pick up your weekly, CHUM Chart, enter promotions and buy the lastest hot singles.

 The iconic landmark is gone and now Sam has departed. Only the memories remain.

R.I.P. Sam

Reaction & tributes: Sam 'The Record Man' Sniderman


.