A memorial service commemorating the life of jazz legend Oliver Jones will be held at Union United Church, located near his childhood home in Little Burgundy where he began his musical journey at the age of five. Jones passed away on July 22 at the age of 91. The service, scheduled for Thursday, follows a public visitation that took place at city hall. Union United Church, a historic Black congregation established 119 years ago, is situated just minutes away from Jones’s family residence.
Throughout his illustrious music career spanning decades, Jones received numerous accolades, such as JUNO awards, honorary doctorates, and appointments to the orders of Montreal, Quebec, and Canada. He was a fixture in Little Burgundy and the Montreal Jazz Festival, gracing its stages regularly from 1981 to 1999.
The memorial service on Thursday will run from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. ET, featuring musical tributes, prayers, and speeches honoring Jones’s legacy.