HONOUR ROLL 2010
4th Annual MMF Canada Honour Roll
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Bymark Restaurant, Toronto
Honour Roll Award - SAM FELDMAN
Inducted by Darren Gilmore & Denise Donlon
With a career that spans almost 40 years in the Canadian music industry and has branched into several different areas including artist representation, talent booking, music supervision, and film and television development and production, Sam Feldman has built A&F Music, the parent company of S.L. Feldman & Associates, Bruce Allen Talent, the Characters Talent Agency, Watchdog Management and Big Pictures Entertainment into what Billboard Magazine aptly describes as a “towering presence in Canadian entertainment”.
Sam has tirelessly worked to help Canadian artists build sustainable careers both in Canada and around the world. With a shrewd eye, Feldman has identified needs of artists in the areas of touring, management and music supervision, and has sought to provide guidance and opportunities. Along the way, Feldman and his management partner Steve Macklam have established themselves as a powerful force in the Canadian music industry, guiding the careers of several top recording artists including: Diana Krall, James Taylor, Norah Jones, The Chieftains, Elvis Costello, Melody Gardot, Susan Tedeschi, Pink Martini and Ry Cooder as well as A Fine Frenzy, Collin James and Hedley.
Pioneer Award - LEONARD RAMBEAU
Inducted by Deane Cameron
In 1968, Leonard Rembeau was involved with a Dartmouth, Nova Scotia youth group who were trying to raise money when he suggested a concert by Anne Murray, who was then best known as a popular singer on CBC’s Singalong Jubilee. Anne agreed to perform at the youth fundraiser, and a deep friendship was born, which eventually led to a successful business relationship.
As Anne’s burgeoning career took off, she left the East Coast for Toronto, where Leonard eventually joined her, forming Balmur – a management/promotion company with Anne, her husband Bill Langstroth, and J. Lyman MacInnis. Rameau assumed the role of General Manager and quickly established himself as a talented and fair negotiator, who would seek positive outcomes for those on both sides of the table. This is most strongly evidenced by his early talks with Capitol Records (now EMI Music Canada), still Anne Murray’s recording home. In addition to Anne Murray, Balmur also guided the careers of George Fox and Rita MacNeil, under Rambeau’s leadership.
Mr. Rambeau was known as a gentleman and scholar, for his kindness and his warmth and understanding. He was a believer in the power of television and the effect that it would have on his artists and the industry, and was pivotal in creating a bond between the CBC and the music industry – a bond that exists to this day. As the second President of CARAS, Rambeau was a key player in the eventual televisation of the JUNO Awards, and the later recipient of the first CARAS Global Achievement Award.