Sam (the Record Man) Sniderman was laid to rest Tuesday, after a funeral was held for him in the city where was born and where he built his well-known record store chain.

Sniderman — who built his career by championing Canadian performers — died peacefully in his sleep on Sunday in Toronto at the age of 92.

His funeral was held at Benjamin's Park Memorial Chapel on Tuesday morning and Sniderman was laid to rest in Mt. Sinai Memorial Park.

The Toronto-born entrepreneur played a key role in cementing the country's artistic identity, efforts that led many to consider him the godfather of Canada's music industry.

He pushed for then-controversial Canadian content broadcast regulations established in 1970 and helped organize the first Juno Awards to celebrate the country's musical talent.

Known widely as Sam the Record Man, Sniderman and his brother Sid opened a small store in Toronto in 1937 and together they built a chain of Sam the Record Man stores across Canada.

Sniderman opened his flagship store on Toronto's Yonge Street in 1959 and it was a haven for artists and music lovers until it closed in 2007, seven years after Sniderman officially retired.

Sniderman's family says a memorial service will be held next month.