Alexander Mair (music)

Alexander Mair (September 29, 1940 - November 25, 2022) was a Canadian music industry executive, most noted as a founder of the Attic Records label.[1]

Background

Born and raised in Toronto, Ontario, he worked in a record store and as a disc jockey at parties in his teenage years.[1] After having taken just one accounting class at the University of Toronto, he was hired by Capitol Records in its royalty payment tracking department, later claiming that he got the job because he knew how to pronounce the names of classical music composers.[1]

Career in music

He began to work in music promotion with Apex Records in the early 1960s.[2] In 1967 he won an RPM award for Top Regional Record Promoter.[3]

By 1968, Mair was the business manager for singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot, playing a key role in setting up Lightfoot's production and publishing companies,[2] and was active in trying to help other aspiring musicians secure record deals.[4]

Mair and Tom Williams set up Attic Records in 1974,[5] quickly growing it into the largest and most influential Canadian independent record label of its era.[6] He retained ownership of the label until 1999, when he sold his shares to Allan Gregg's Song Corporation.[2]

During his career, he also played key roles in the creation of the Canadian Independent Record Production Association, the Canadian Musical Reproduction Rights Association and the National Aboriginal Music Association, and held board and leadership roles with the Composers, Authors and Publishers Association of Canada, the Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada, the Canadian Music Publishers Association and Massey Hall.[2]

He later established MHL Communications, a company which published the music trade magazine Applaud!.[2]

Honours

In 2022, he was named a Member of the Order of Canada.[7] Due to his poor health, he was presented with his OC insignia by Elizabeth Dowdeswell in his hospital room at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre just days before his death.[1]

At the Juno Awards of 2026, he is slated to posthumously receive the Walt Grealis Special Achievement Award in honour of his career.[8]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Brad Wheeler, "Canadian music industry titan Al Mair co-founded Attic Records". The Globe and Mail, December 1, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d e Nick Krewen, "R.I.P.: Al Mair, Music Biz Pioneer". Billboard, November 25, 2022.
  3. ^ RPM, February 4, 1967.
  4. ^ Jack Batten, "The adventures of pop musicians and the Canadian 'content hysteria". The Globe and Mail, January 30, 1971.
  5. ^ Kaelen Bell, "Attic Records Co-Founder Alexander Mair Has Died". Exclaim!, November 24, 2022.
  6. ^ Zena Cherry, "Gino went shoeless at the Junos". The Globe and Mail, March 24, 1979.
  7. ^ "Alexander Mair Appointed Order of Canada Member". Billboard, June 29, 2022.
  8. ^ Kerry Doole, "Daniel Caesar to Perform and Receive International Achievement Award at 2026 Juno Awards". Billboard, January 15, 2026.
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