This summer, Canadian music business titan Alexander Mair was appointed to the Order of Canada as a Companion Member. On Tuesday, Ontario Lieutenant-Governor Elizabeth Dowdeswell awarded him the medalThe Toronto-born entrepreneur and music industry mentor was an influential figure in the growth of independent record companies in this country. In 1974, he and Tom Williams founded Attic Records, which became one of the largest and most successful indie labels in Canadian history.
His extensive worldwide contacts enabled Attic artists to thrive outside Canada. During Mr. Mair’s period as the label’s president and chief executive officer , artists signed to the Toronto-based company earned gold, platinum and multiplatinum awards from Holland, Japan, Canada and the United States.
Although Mr. Mair worked with the Irish Rovers and licensed records in Canada for such high-profile international acts as Jennifer Warnes and Weird Al Yankovic, the Attic label released music by marching bands and bagpipers too. “The secret of survival for any record company is a steady flow of product,” he said this summer on the podcastAs a teenager, Mr. Mair worked at a record shop after school and spun records at dances on the weekend.