Rockhead’s Paradise
Artifact
Image
Video
Audio
Activities
LOOK
Look closely at the picture and the caption above it.
Conduct research to find out what “smartest colored nite club” might have meant during this time period.
LOOK
Look closely at the picture.
What might the night life have been like at Rockhead’s Paradise?
Who might have attended and who might not have? Why do you think this was, based on what you have learned about society at the time?
LISTEN
Listen to the BlacktoCanada podcast hosted by Channon Oyeniran to learn more about the life of Rufus Rockhead.
Take notes as you listen. Then, write an informational paragraph about Rockhead’s life.
THINK
How might Rockhead’s Paradise have helped Black Montréalers feel a sense of belonging, in light of the racism that they experienced in society?
Details
Date 
Materials - Paper
Historical Context
Choose one of the three levels below to match your needs.
- This is a postcard of the jazz club, Rockhead’s Paradise, owned by Rufus Rockhead.
- Rockhead’s Paradise was a jazz club located in Montréal’s St. Antoine neighbourhood that helped define the district as the “Harlem of the North.”
- Rockhead’s Paradise was owned and operated by Rufus Rockhead who was born in Jamaica and immigrated to Halifax.
- Rockhead moved to Montréal in 1919, served in the Army, and worked as a railway porter before opening Rockhead’s Paradise in 1928.
- Until 1950, Rockhead’s Paradise thrived and featured well-known musicians. Rockhead sold the club in 1980 after jazz music became less popular and the neighbourhood declined.
Scroll through the carousel to see other objects related, including a video excerpt from Episode 8 Claiming Space of the Black Life: Untold Stories documentary series.
This is a postcard of the jazz club, Rockhead’s Paradise, owned by Rufus Rockhead.
Rockhead’s Paradise was a jazz club located in Montréal’s St. Antoine neighbourhood. It and other nearby clubs helped define Montréal’s Black entertainment district as the “Harlem of the North.”
Rockhead’s Paradise was owned and operated by Rufus Rockhead. Rockhead was born in Jamaica and immigrated to Halifax. He moved to Montréal, and in 1918, joined the Canadian Army and was awarded for his service.
In 1919, Rockhead returned to Montréal, opened a shoeshine business, and became a porter for the Canadian Pacific Railway. In 1927, he started a family.
Though racism restricted what property Black people could buy, Rockhead opened Rockhead’s Paradise in 1928. Between 1930 and 1950, Rockhead’s Paradise thrived, with well-known talent such as Billie Holiday, Oliver Jones, and Oscar Peterson.
In the 1960s, the lounge closed temporarily after jazz music became less popular and the neighbourhood deteriorated. Rockhead sold Rockhead’s Paradise in 1980.
Scroll through the carousel to see other objects related to Little Burgundy.
This is a postcard of the jazz club, Rockhead’s Paradise, owned by Rufus Rockhead.
Rockhead’s Paradise was an iconic jazz club located in Montréal’s St. Antoine neighbourhood. It was surrounded by notable establishments such as Café St-Michel and the Terminal Club. These helped define Montréal’s Black entertainment district as the “Harlem of the North.”
Rockhead’s Paradise was owned and operated by Rufus Rockhead. Rockhead was born in Jamaica and immigrated to Halifax at age 22. He moved to Montréal, and in 1918, joined the Canadian Army and was awarded for his service.
In 1919, Rockhead returned to Montréal. He opened a shoeshine business and became a porter for the Canadian Pacific Railway. He married in 1927, had children, and pursued his desire to open a jazz club.
Though racism restricted what property Black people could buy at the time, Rockhead opened Rockhead’s Paradise in 1928 in the historically Black community of St. Antoine. Between 1930 and 1950, Rockhead’s Paradise thrived, with well-known talent that included Billie Holiday, Oliver Jones, Nina Simone, and Oscar Peterson.
In the 1960s, the lounge closed temporarily after jazz music became less popular and the neighbourhood deteriorated. Rockhead eventually sold the club in 1980. In 2012, pianist Billy Georgette organized “Rockhead’s Last Jam” at Montréal’s House of Jazz to honour Rockhead’s legacy.
Scroll through the carousel to see other objects related to Little Burgundy.
- This is a postcard of the jazz club, Rockhead’s Paradise, owned by Rufus Rockhead.
- Rockhead’s Paradise was a jazz club located in Montréal’s St. Antoine neighbourhood that helped define the district as the “Harlem of the North.”
- Rockhead’s Paradise was owned and operated by Rufus Rockhead who was born in Jamaica and immigrated to Halifax.
- Rockhead moved to Montréal in 1919, served in the Army, and worked as a railway porter before opening Rockhead’s Paradise in 1928.
- Until 1950, Rockhead’s Paradise thrived and featured well-known musicians. Rockhead sold the club in 1980 after jazz music became less popular and the neighbourhood declined.
Scroll through the carousel to see other objects related, including a video excerpt from Episode 8 Claiming Space of the Black Life: Untold Stories documentary series.
This is a postcard of the jazz club, Rockhead’s Paradise, owned by Rufus Rockhead.
Rockhead’s Paradise was a jazz club located in Montréal’s St. Antoine neighbourhood. It and other nearby clubs helped define Montréal’s Black entertainment district as the “Harlem of the North.”
Rockhead’s Paradise was owned and operated by Rufus Rockhead. Rockhead was born in Jamaica and immigrated to Halifax. He moved to Montréal, and in 1918, joined the Canadian Army and was awarded for his service.
In 1919, Rockhead returned to Montréal, opened a shoeshine business, and became a porter for the Canadian Pacific Railway. In 1927, he started a family.
Though racism restricted what property Black people could buy, Rockhead opened Rockhead’s Paradise in 1928. Between 1930 and 1950, Rockhead’s Paradise thrived, with well-known talent such as Billie Holiday, Oliver Jones, and Oscar Peterson.
In the 1960s, the lounge closed temporarily after jazz music became less popular and the neighbourhood deteriorated. Rockhead sold Rockhead’s Paradise in 1980.
Scroll through the carousel to see other objects related to Little Burgundy.
This is a postcard of the jazz club, Rockhead’s Paradise, owned by Rufus Rockhead.
Rockhead’s Paradise was an iconic jazz club located in Montréal’s St. Antoine neighbourhood. It was surrounded by notable establishments such as Café St-Michel and the Terminal Club. These helped define Montréal’s Black entertainment district as the “Harlem of the North.”
Rockhead’s Paradise was owned and operated by Rufus Rockhead. Rockhead was born in Jamaica and immigrated to Halifax at age 22. He moved to Montréal, and in 1918, joined the Canadian Army and was awarded for his service.
In 1919, Rockhead returned to Montréal. He opened a shoeshine business and became a porter for the Canadian Pacific Railway. He married in 1927, had children, and pursued his desire to open a jazz club.
Though racism restricted what property Black people could buy at the time, Rockhead opened Rockhead’s Paradise in 1928 in the historically Black community of St. Antoine. Between 1930 and 1950, Rockhead’s Paradise thrived, with well-known talent that included Billie Holiday, Oliver Jones, Nina Simone, and Oscar Peterson.
In the 1960s, the lounge closed temporarily after jazz music became less popular and the neighbourhood deteriorated. Rockhead eventually sold the club in 1980. In 2012, pianist Billy Georgette organized “Rockhead’s Last Jam” at Montréal’s House of Jazz to honour Rockhead’s legacy.
Scroll through the carousel to see other objects related to Little Burgundy.
Summary
- This is a postcard of the jazz club, Rockhead’s Paradise, owned by Rufus Rockhead.
- Rockhead’s Paradise was a jazz club located in Montréal’s St. Antoine neighbourhood that helped define the district as the “Harlem of the North.”
- Rockhead’s Paradise was owned and operated by Rufus Rockhead who was born in Jamaica and immigrated to Halifax.
- Rockhead moved to Montréal in 1919, served in the Army, and worked as a railway porter before opening Rockhead’s Paradise in 1928.
- Until 1950, Rockhead’s Paradise thrived and featured well-known musicians. Rockhead sold the club in 1980 after jazz music became less popular and the neighbourhood declined.
Scroll through the carousel to see other objects related, including a video excerpt from Episode 8 Claiming Space of the Black Life: Untold Stories documentary series.
Essential
This is a postcard of the jazz club, Rockhead’s Paradise, owned by Rufus Rockhead.
Rockhead’s Paradise was a jazz club located in Montréal’s St. Antoine neighbourhood. It and other nearby clubs helped define Montréal’s Black entertainment district as the “Harlem of the North.”
Rockhead’s Paradise was owned and operated by Rufus Rockhead. Rockhead was born in Jamaica and immigrated to Halifax. He moved to Montréal, and in 1918, joined the Canadian Army and was awarded for his service.
In 1919, Rockhead returned to Montréal, opened a shoeshine business, and became a porter for the Canadian Pacific Railway. In 1927, he started a family.
Though racism restricted what property Black people could buy, Rockhead opened Rockhead’s Paradise in 1928. Between 1930 and 1950, Rockhead’s Paradise thrived, with well-known talent such as Billie Holiday, Oliver Jones, and Oscar Peterson.
In the 1960s, the lounge closed temporarily after jazz music became less popular and the neighbourhood deteriorated. Rockhead sold Rockhead’s Paradise in 1980.
Scroll through the carousel to see other objects related to Little Burgundy.
In-Depth
This is a postcard of the jazz club, Rockhead’s Paradise, owned by Rufus Rockhead.
Rockhead’s Paradise was an iconic jazz club located in Montréal’s St. Antoine neighbourhood. It was surrounded by notable establishments such as Café St-Michel and the Terminal Club. These helped define Montréal’s Black entertainment district as the “Harlem of the North.”
Rockhead’s Paradise was owned and operated by Rufus Rockhead. Rockhead was born in Jamaica and immigrated to Halifax at age 22. He moved to Montréal, and in 1918, joined the Canadian Army and was awarded for his service.
In 1919, Rockhead returned to Montréal. He opened a shoeshine business and became a porter for the Canadian Pacific Railway. He married in 1927, had children, and pursued his desire to open a jazz club.
Though racism restricted what property Black people could buy at the time, Rockhead opened Rockhead’s Paradise in 1928 in the historically Black community of St. Antoine. Between 1930 and 1950, Rockhead’s Paradise thrived, with well-known talent that included Billie Holiday, Oliver Jones, Nina Simone, and Oscar Peterson.
In the 1960s, the lounge closed temporarily after jazz music became less popular and the neighbourhood deteriorated. Rockhead eventually sold the club in 1980. In 2012, pianist Billy Georgette organized “Rockhead’s Last Jam” at Montréal’s House of Jazz to honour Rockhead’s legacy.
Scroll through the carousel to see other objects related to Little Burgundy.