- 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.
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