Walt Grealis
Encyclopedia
Walter Grealis, OC
(18 February 1929–20 January 2004) was a Canadian publisher and music industry leader. With partner Stan Klees
, he co-founded Canada's national music honours, the Juno Award
s. As an ardent supporter of Canadian music, Grealis is credited with coining the term CanCon
.
and attended Central High School of Commerce
in that city until his tenth grade. His initial career was in law enforcement, first as an Royal Canadian Mounted Police
then in 1952 as a Toronto city police officer.
in February 1964, publishing weekly for most of its existence until November 2000.
With partner Stan Klees, the Gold Leaf Awards were founded to honour Canadian music industry achievements. From 1964 to 1969, winners were announced in RPM at the end of each year. In 1970, this was expanded to a formal ceremonial event and renamed to Juno Award
s later that year.
in 1993. In 1999, Grealis was inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame
. At the Juno Awards of 2004
, he was posthumously honoured with the music industry achievement award named the Walt Grealis Special Achievement Award.
.
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
(18 February 1929–20 January 2004) was a Canadian publisher and music industry leader. With partner Stan Klees
Stan Klees
Stan Klees was a Canadian music industry businessman. He created the music recording companies Tamarac and Red Leaf Records in the 1960s....
, he co-founded Canada's national music honours, the Juno Award
Juno Award
The Juno Awards are presented annually to Canadian musical artists and bands to acknowledge their artistic and technical achievements in all aspects of music...
s. As an ardent supporter of Canadian music, Grealis is credited with coining the term CanCon
Cancon
Cancon is a commune in the Lot-et-Garonne department in south-western France....
.
History
Walt Grealis was born in TorontoToronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
and attended Central High School of Commerce
Central Commerce Collegiate
Central Commerce Collegiate is a public, semestered secondary school located in the Palmerston-Little Italy neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario, Canada....
in that city until his tenth grade. His initial career was in law enforcement, first as an Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police , literally ‘Royal Gendarmerie of Canada’; colloquially known as The Mounties, and internally as ‘The Force’) is the national police force of Canada, and one of the most recognized of its kind in the world. It is unique in the world as a national, federal,...
then in 1952 as a Toronto city police officer.
Music career
He entered the music industry in 1960 after leaving policing and trying various careers in the late 1950s. He founded Canadian music industry magazine RPMRPM (magazine)
RPM was a Canadian music industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. RPM ceased publication in November 2000.RPM stood for "Records, Promotion,...
in February 1964, publishing weekly for most of its existence until November 2000.
With partner Stan Klees, the Gold Leaf Awards were founded to honour Canadian music industry achievements. From 1964 to 1969, winners were announced in RPM at the end of each year. In 1970, this was expanded to a formal ceremonial event and renamed to Juno Award
Juno Award
The Juno Awards are presented annually to Canadian musical artists and bands to acknowledge their artistic and technical achievements in all aspects of music...
s later that year.
Honours
Grealis was appointed an Officer of the Order of CanadaOrder of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
in 1993. In 1999, Grealis was inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame
Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame
The Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame, located in Merritt, British Columbia, was established in 1984 to honour Canadian country music artists, builders or broadcasters, living or deceased...
. At the Juno Awards of 2004
Juno Awards of 2004
The Juno Awards of 2004 were presented on April 4, 2004 at Rexall Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada and were hosted by Alanis Morissette.Singer-songwriters Nelly Furtado, Sarah McLachlan, and Nickelback led the nominations with five nominations each...
, he was posthumously honoured with the music industry achievement award named the Walt Grealis Special Achievement Award.
Later life
Grealis, a non-smoker, died at Klees' residence in 2004 following several years of lung cancerLung cancer
Lung cancer is a disease characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. If left untreated, this growth can spread beyond the lung in a process called metastasis into nearby tissue and, eventually, into other parts of the body. Most cancers that start in lung, known as primary...
.