Jones, Leon

Websites:  https://godfreydeanartgallery.ca/the-harvest-leon-and-bonnie-jones/
Origin: San Fernando, Trinidad - Edmonton, Alberta - Yellowknife, Northwest Territories - Yorkton, Saskatchewan, 🇨🇦
Biography:

Leon Carlton Jones (September 28, 1950 – April 9, 2025) was a towering figure in both stature and spirit. Standing at 6'7", his presence was immediately felt—but it was his deep warmth, soulful voice, and magnetic storytelling that left the most lasting impression. Born in San Fernando, Trinidad, Leon embraced Christianity at the age of 11, a commitment that would become the cornerstone of his life’s journey.

At 19, he immigrated to Canada, joining his brothers in Edmonton. There, he worked for Canadian Pacific Railway and Canada Freightways before founding his own delivery and cleaning businesses. He later earned a diploma in Computer Science and Systems Analysis from Grant MacEwan College.

His career eventually took him to Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, where he worked as a systems analyst for the territorial government. In 1993, he moved to Yorkton, Saskatchewan, where he met his future wife Bonnie Neudorf. Together, they built a home filled with love, faith, and creativity.

Leon’s musical gifts found their most enduring expression in The Harvest, a 1976 album of original gospel songs and spirituals. Captured with a full band and backup singers—including Bonnie herself—the album resonates with conviction and emotional depth. As dementia began to affect his memory in later years, revisiting The Harvest reawakened the music in him, bringing joy, tears, and renewed meaning to his songs.

In the weeks following Leon’s passing in April 2025, his son Ralwyn reached out to The Museum of Canadian Music to ensure his father’s musical legacy would be preserved. Thanks to that heartfelt gesture, The Harvest is now archived at CitizenFreak.com, where future generations can discover Leon’s remarkable voice and spiritual vision.

Leon Jones is remembered not just as a musician, husband, and father, but as a storyteller and man of profound faith. His legacy continues through his songs, his family, and the quiet, powerful impact he had on all who knew him.
-Robert Williston