Bernie Finkelstein

A high school dropout who parlayed his experience in the music business to establish a multi-million dollar record company, Bernie Finkelstein is a giant in the Canadian music industry. His record label True North put out over 400 albums, of which over forty earned the gold and platinum status, and his stable of artists collected an impressive 49 Juno awards. Beginning with the rock group, The Paupers, Bernie went on to produce or manage the careers of such Canadian notables as Bruce Cockburn, Dan Hill, Rough Trade and Blackie and the Rodeo Kings. Born in Toronto, Bernie was an Air Force brat and saw a good part of Canada and the world before returning to live in Toronto where he soon dropped out of high school in order to spend all of his time in Yorkville's music scene. Selling himself as a promoter, Finkelstein became the manager of The Paupers and after getting the band signed to a major label, arranged for the group to a concert in New York where they served as the opening act for the Jefferson Airplane. After he began his independent record label, True North Finkelstein began to lobby on behalf of Canadian content regulations, a policy that many believe is responsible for the establishment of a successful and prosperous music industry in Canada. His book, True North: A Life in The Music Business, recounts much of Bernie's experiences. Ken Rockburn spoke to Bernie Finkelstein at his home in Eastern Ontario.