Did you buy records at Sam's store? He's gone now

The founder of Canada’s most famous music store died Sunday in Toronto.

Sam Sniderman was 92.

Over 40 years, his Sam The Record Man outlet at 347 Yonge St. was a “must” stop for many Sault and area residents visiting T.O.

The landmark store with its distinctive neon sign opened at the well-known location in 1961 and closed for the first time in 2001.

Two of Silverman’s sons restored the business in 2002 but the doors were shut for good in 2007 when Ryerson University purchased the building.

In its heyday, Sam The Record Man carried some 400,000 titles in various formats.

The Toronto store led to 130 others across the country.

Known to some as the Godfather of Canadian Music, Sniderman helped launch several  careers, including those of The Guess Who, Gordon Lightfoot and Joni Mitchell.

Sniderman received the Order of Canada 1976 and he was inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame in 1997.