In Loving Memory of Alan Davis
Founder, Small World Music
22 Sep 1961 – 25 Jun 2025

Alan dedicated his life to building bridges through music. One of his greatest legacies will remain Small World Music, which he founded in 1997 with a vision to celebrate the rich cultural diversity of Toronto through the universal language of music.

His mission was simple but powerful: to create space where communities from every background — across cultures, languages, and borders — could share their music, celebrate their identities, and inspire audiences. The heart of Small World, Alan worked tirelessly to bring the beat of the globe to Toronto’s stages big and small.

Under his leadership, Small World presented thousands of shows, supported tens of thousands of artists, and helped shape one of Canada’s most inclusive and vibrant musical communities. Alan was more than a programmer. He was a mentor, a friend, a collaborator, and a champion of creative voices. He believed in the power of music not just to entertain, but to transform, to connect, and to heal. His legacy lives on in the careers he helped launch, the stages he helped build, and the spirit of belonging he nurtured wherever he went.

Our hearts are with his family, loved ones, and everyone whose life was touched by his kindness and vision. May his memory be a blessing. To honour and continue Alan’s legacy and global impact, we invite you to contribute to the new Alan Davis Music Fund. Every gift contributed to this fund will support his commitment to the professional development and career sustainability of newcomer artists in Canada.

By clicking the button below, we also invite you to share your stories, photos, videos, and memories of Alan. It can be anything you’d like to share to help us collectively remember the extraordinary person he was. In honour of his wishes, we are also planning a truly meaningful and joyful celebration of his life with music and dancing, and we invite all of you, our Small World community, to join us. We will share more details in the coming weeks.

With love and gratitude,
The Small World Music Team