Jason Sniderman
Template:Short description Jason Sniderman is a Canadian musician and businessman. He was one of the chief executives of Sam the Record Man,<ref name="Sams closes">Template:Cite news</ref> He also played keyboards on a number of rock music albums, performed with the band Blue Peter, and later released several albums under the name Ensign Broderick. He is also the father of Canadian musician Cos Sylvan, who has been the live bassist for Swedish rock band Ghost since 2018.
Early lifeEdit
Sniderman grew up in Toronto, Ontario, the son of businessman Sam Sniderman.<ref name="Sams closes" /> He was involved in the music industry from childhood through the family record store.<ref>"Sam 'The Record Man' Sniderman dies at 92". Winnipeg Free Press, via Newspaper Archives, September 25, 2012 - Page 26</ref>
Music careerEdit
Sniderman was a keyboard player in the new wave band Blue Peter, joining towards the end of their run in 1983, in time for the recording and release of their final album, Falling.<ref name="Jam!">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>"Blue Peter bounces back with stylish new album". Winnipeg Free Press, via Newspaper Archives, August 10, 1983 - Page 31</ref> He has appeared as a guest musician on albums by other Canadian artists, including contributing keyboards on Randy Bachman's album Any Road,<ref name="Bachman">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Chalk Circle's recording of 20th Century Boy,<ref name="greatlake">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and recordings produced by fellow Blue Peter member Chris Wardman.<ref name=Bachman /> He played keyboards on the albums Presto and Clockwork Angels by Rush and Don't Cry Too Hard by Leslie Spit Treeo, and played piano on 6 Blocks by Meryn Cadell.
Sniderman is an Advisory Board Member of the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame<ref name="CSHOF">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and plays shows with Blue Peter a few times a year.
In March 2018, Sniderman released the album Feast of Panthers under the pseudonym Ensign Broderick, a musical alter ego he had first created in childhood.<ref name="ensign">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>"Jason Sniderman's glam-rock persona Ensign Broderick unleashed at 60". National Post, David Friend, November 22, 2018</ref> By November, Sniderman had released three more albums of music recorded decades earlier, and one album of new material, Bloodcrush.<ref>"Jason Sniderman's Glam-Rock Reinvention As Ensign Broderick". FYI Music News, Nov 28, 2018 by Kerry Doole</ref> <ref>"Ensign Broderick BloodCrush". Exclaim!, By Paul Blinov, Nov 08, 2018</ref>
Sam the Record ManEdit
Sniderman's father, Sam Sniderman, started selling records in his brother's radio store in the 1930s.<ref name="Signs off">Template:Cite news</ref> His company grew into a national chain, with a flagship store on Yonge Street in Toronto.<ref name="Goodbye">Template:Cite news</ref> In the 1980s and 1990s the chain was operated by Roblan Distributors, with Jason Sniderman as Vice President.<ref name="Inc.1997">Template:Cite book</ref> Sam retired in 2000,<ref name=Goodbye /> and the majority of the chain was closed in 2001 after filing for bankruptcy.<ref name="Signs off" /> Jason Sniderman and his brother Bobby saved the store's iconic neon signs, and re-opened the Yonge St. location in 2002.<ref name=Goodbye /> An attempt at building the Sam's brand with online sales was not enough,<ref name="it">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> however, with the rise of mp3 downloads and competition from chains such as HMV down the street, Sam's was forced to close in 2007.<ref name="jerk">Template:Cite news</ref>