Walter Grealis and Stan Klees: The Godfathers of CanCon

Walt Grealis and Stan Klees: The Godfathers of CanCon

Before Canadian music was heard on the world stage, it first had to be heard at home. That belief guided the life’s work of Walt Grealis and Stan Klees, two determined and complementary figures whose vision helped shape the sound and structure of Canada’s modern music industry.

Walt Grealis was the public champion—the publisher, organiser, and unrelenting advocate for Canadian artists. In 1964, he co‑founded RPM Weekly, a modest trade magazine that quickly became the backbone of the Canadian recording industry. At a time when radio playlists were dominated by imported hits, RPM gave Canadian musicians visibility, credibility, and a sense that their work mattered. Grealis believed deeply in building a Canadian “star system” and is widely credited with popularising the term Canadian Content, or CanCon, a rallying cry for homegrown music. 

If Grealis was the voice, Stan Klees was the architect. Working behind the scenes, Klees helped shape the policies that ensured Canadian music would not fade into the background. He played a central role in lobbying federal regulators for Canadian content rules, contributing to the landmark regulations that required radio stations to feature domestic music. His enduring innovation—the MAPL system—gave broadcasters a clear and practical way to identify Canadian recordings, turning policy into daily practice. 

Together, Grealis and Klees created what would become the Juno Awards, originally launched through RPM as reader‑based honours celebrating Canadian talent. Over time, the awards evolved into the country’s premier music celebration, providing artists with recognition at home and legitimacy abroad.

What makes their contribution remarkable is how often it came without financial reward. RPM struggled financially for much of its existence, and both men worked driven by conviction rather than profit. Their legacy is not a single building or institution, but an ecosystem—one that allows Canadian artists to be heard, celebrated, and sustained.

Today, whenever Canadian music fills airwaves, concert halls, or international charts, it carries something of their legacy. Walt Grealis and Stan Klees didn’t just promote Canadian music—they made it possible.