Deane Cameron, former record label head and Canadian music champion, dies at 65
Posted May 17, 2019 11:11 am.
TORONTO — Tributes are pouring in for former record label executive Deane Cameron, who in propelling the careers of artists from Anne Murray to Nickelback, helped shape the sound of Canadian music.
A spokeswoman for Massey Hall confirmed that Cameron, who headed the non-profit that operates the Toronto cultural institution, died Thursday at age 65.
Over his four-decade career, Cameron worked with some of the biggest names in Canadian music, including Serena Ryder, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Stompin’ Tom Connors, the Rankin Family and July Talk.
He got his start in the music scene as teenager playing the drums with Tom Cochrane, and rose through the ranks of EMI Music Canada to become the record label’s president and CEO in 1988, serving in the top job for 24 years.
Cameron pushed to secure major U.S. record deals for Canadian artists including Corey Hart, Max Webster and Red Rider, and also instrumental in putting support behind international acts such as Coldplay, Kate Bush and Katy Perry in the Canadian market.
His championing of homegrown talent earned him the moniker “Captain Canada,” and won Cameron a number of accolades, including the Order of Canada and the Walt Grealis Special Achievement Award at the Junos.
Cameron was appointed the president and CEO of the Corporation of Massey Hall and Roy Thomson Hall in 2015.
The Canadian Press
