Became a member of the Order of Canada less than one month before his
death
Moved to Canada in 1948 and became a Canadian citizen in 2000.
Important jazz musician in Montreal for nearly 50 years
He was awarded the C.M. (Member of the Order of Canada) on January 19,
2003 for his services to Music in Canada at the investiture ceremony in
Canada.
In January 2003 he received the Prix Calixa-Lavallee, presented by
Quebec's St. Jean Baptiste Society, for his contributions to music.
The musician met Constance Marchand, a white francophone woman, in 1956 and the two were wed not long after. As it was the 1950s, she was ostracized by her family for marrying a Black man.