Quebec bids farewell to singer Serge Fiori during national funeral in Montreal

MONTREAL — Thousands of people gathered at Montreal’s Place des Arts on Tuesday for the national funeral of legendary singer-songwriter Serge Fiori.

Fiori, the co-founder of the influential French-Canadian rock band Harmonium, died on June 24 at age 73.

His family accepted the Quebec government’s offer to help organize his funeral, which took the form of a musical celebration at Montreal’s premier arts venue.

Politicians, performers and the public packed Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier in downtown Montreal for a musical final bow that was broadcast live on Radio-Canada and the LCN network.

Fiori left his mark on Quebec’s musical world with Harmonium and beyond, including as a duo with musician Richard Séguin and through solo projects.

The urn and guitar belonging to Quebec singer and founding member of the band Harmonium, Serge Fiori are seen before his national tribute ceremony in Montreal on Tuesday, July 15, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christinne Muschi

Premier François Legault, who took part in the event, recalled listening to Harmonium’s first album in 1974 as a 16-year-old, saying Fiori “made our lives more beautiful.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 15, 2025.