Favorite
Artists
Emeline Michel
Emeline Michel, born in Gonaïves, is a Haitian singer who has been called "The Joni Mitchell of Haiti." Her songs merge native Haitian compas and rara music with jazz, pop, bossa nova, and samba. She is a well accomplished dancer, versatile vocalist, songwriter and producer. She sang a version of Jimmy Cliff's "Many Rivers to Cross" at Hope for Haiti Now: A Global Benefit for Earthquake Relief.
T-Vice
Roberto and Reynaldo Martino, the sons of renowned Haitian lead guitarist Robert Martino of the classic compas band, Top Vice, were musically inspired by them to create music of their own. In 1992, T-Vice was founded as a successor to Top Vice, in which the T- is shortened twice, once from Ti', then ultimately from the word petit, which is French (as well as Creole) for "small" (hence "Small" Vice).[6][7] They soon recruited longtime friends James Cardozo and Gérald Kébreau completing the original quartet and are still known as such today.
T-Vice band is based in Miami, Fl. It was formed in 1991. Musical influences include reggae, merengue, flamenco and rock n’ roll. Unlike most Haitian bands, T-Vice's reach extends outside of Haiti to as far as the US, Caribbean and even Europe. T-Vice collaborates with other popular Haitian bands, most notably, Carimi and even their rival band Djakout Mizik. They have also worked with the famous Haitian rapper Wyclef Jean and Jamaican musician Buju Banton.
RAM
RAM is a mizik rasin band based in the city of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The band derives its name from the initials of its founder, songwriter, and lead male vocalist, Richard A. Morse. The band's music has been described by Morse as "Vodou rock 'n' roots", and has been one of the prominent bands in the mizik rasin musical movement in Haiti. RAM began performing together in 1990, and recorded their first album in 1996. The band's music incorporates traditional Vodou lyrics and instruments, such as rara horns and petro drums, into modern rock and roll. The band's songs include lyrics in Haitian Creole, French, and English.
RAM is famous for its regular Thursday night performances at the Hotel Oloffson in downtown Port-au-Prince, attended by hotel guests and a wide spectrum of the country's political and racial groups. During the years of the military junta of Raoul Cédras, one of the band's singles, "Fèy", was banned nationwide by the military authorities who perceived it to be a song of support for the exiled President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. The band continued to play weekly concerts in defiance of death threats from the regime until Morse only narrowly escaped a kidnapping from the hotel in 1994. The band began recording albums in 1996, after United States military intervention restored Aristide to power. In 1998, the band clashed with the newly elected mayor of Port-au-Prince, a supporter of Aristide, and survived an assassination attempt during their Carnival performance. Through its song lyrics, RAM continues to provoke the antagonism of both the supporters of Aristide and former military regimes.
Misty Jean
Misty Jean started performing at age of three with the dance institute of Lynn W. Rouzier. She started singing at the age of seven in amateur singing contests. Since then, her passion for music became an obsession. At the college of "Anglade" where she graduated, she was named soloist of the choir and became an instant neighborhood celebrity.
In 1998, she took part in La Soiree Magique De La Guitare with well-known pianist Raoul Denis Jr. and The Widmaier brothers. In 1999, she is chosen by Haitel the leading Haitian cellular phone company to be their spokesmodel in a major promotional campaign.
During the month of February 2001, she flew to the island of Saint Maarten where she represented Haiti among twenty two other countries for the title of Miss West Indies. On February 21, she won the contest for best talent and was crowned Miss West Indies.
On May 27, 2001, she sang at the Ritz Kinam in Pétion-Ville, Haiti, on the night entitled "Femme" of Yole Derose. She may also be found in Caribbean Escape of Raoul Denis Jr.
In February 2002, she was crowned Miss de la Francophonie in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
In March 2003, she performed at Diva's Night at Gusto's in Miami Lakes, Florida. On April 13, 2003, she was crowned Queen of Carnival at the Greater Miami Mardi Gras.
Her First French / Creole album entitled Plus Pres De Toi was released in June 2004. It included hits like "Patizan", "Ce Ou Mwen Vle", "Maladie D'amour" and many more.
On the Fourth of July 2004, she performed live at the Bayfront Park alongside Lil' Kim. In August 2004, she embarked on a tour of the French Antilles where she performed remarkably for many audiences. In December 2005, she performed at Bataclan located in Paris, France. In February 2006, she performed at Bicentennial Park for the Greater Miami Mardi Gras, in Florida.
Her second album entitled Konpa A Gogo came out in May 2006. It contains the hit songs: "Konpa A Gogo" Featuring Kaysha, "Car Wash", "Paradi Lanmou", "S’abandonner" a Duet with Thierry Cham, "Hear the Tam Tam", and "Camionette".
In December 2006, she released her first live album with her band composed of very young talented musicians.
In January 2007, she hosted the Haitian Independence Festival at Bayfront Park.
Her third solo album Li Pa Two Ta released in April 2008 contained the following hits: "Kijan Lari A Ye", "Rev Mwen", "Tu pleures", "Vini’m Bo’w", "Li Pa Two Ta", "Lanmou Tounen Prizon", "Vale Fan’m", "Hommage A Ti Manno", "Tam Tam" featuring Puerto Rican rapper Shino. Several talented producers, musicians and artists participated in this project.
In February 2009, she performed with her band on the float of Unitransfer at the Jacmel Carnival in Haiti. During the same period, she performed at the Concert Chocolat at the prestigious Parc Historique de la Canne in Port-au-Prince.
On June 25, 2009, she made her acting debut in the movie The Price to Pay by Mora Etienne Jr. in which she played the lead role of "Zoulmie".[6]
In December 2009, she released her second live album.
She has released five videos that get airplayed regularly: "Kijan La Ri A Ye", "Tam Tam featuring Shino", "Paradi Lanmou", "Maladie D'Amour", and "Ce Ou Mwen Vle".
Her fourth solo album Just Like That will be released in February 2011.[7] It contains the following songs: "Just Like That", "Nou Pa Ka Zanmi", "The Only One", "Nou Kwe" (Duet With Tanya St Val), "Sa Red", "Booty Call", "Gradiasyon", "Ton Absence" (Duet with Oswald), "Lumane Cazimir", "Peyizan", "Sispan'n Koupe", "Jwi La Vi", "A Gogo", "Tonton Nwel".
Martha Jean-Claude
Martha Jean-Claude (21 March 1919 – 14 November 2001) was a Haitian writer, civil rights activist, entertainer, and composer. She was born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti and was well known internationally during her life and could perform in many languages. Her singing career began during the late 1930's and early 1940's. She incorporated Haitian folklore and Voodou lyrics into her performances. She spoke out against Haitian authorities who were exploiting the Haitian people. She was arrested in 1952 during the administration of President Paul Eugene Magloire after publishing her play "Anriette". Officials considered it to be directed toward and against the government at that time. When she was arrested she was pregnant but was released two days before giving birth.
Jean-Claude was exiled to Cuba on 20 December 1952. She was married to Victor Mirabal, a Cuban journalist.[1] Jean-Claude was well-known to the Hispanic communities who admired her talent and activism. She was featured in radio and television broadcasts in Cuba. She appeared in the movie Yambaó (1957) that starred the Cuban-Mexican actress Ninón Sevilla.[1] Cuba has claimed her as a great artist of that country. She became a member of The Cuban Union of Writers and Artists. She performed at many international venues that included: Salle Claude Campagne, Casa de las Américas in Cuba, Palais des Beaux-Arts in Paris, Madison Square Garden in New York City, Maison de L'UNESCO in Paris, United Nation Headquarters in New York City, and for the Faculty of Music at Montreal University. She traveled and visited almost all the nations of Central and South America and Angola. She also spoke in Panama against those who violated basic human rights in that country. She wrote and performed political songs. Jean-Claude also appeared in the Cuban film Simparele (1974)[2] directed by Humberto Solás.[1]
Jean-Claude had four children with Mirabal: Linda (an opera singer), Sandra (a musician), Magdalena (a physician living in Cuba), and Richard.[3] Her son Richard Mirabal has served as director of the Martha Jean-Claude Foundation, which promotes cultural ties between Haiti and Cuba.[1]: 143 Her son Richard produced the film Fanm De Zil [Woman of Two Islands] (2000) about her life and work.[1]: 143 [3] Jean-Claude returned to Haiti in 1986. She died in Havana, Cuba on 14 November 2001, aged 82, at her home there.[4][5][3] She has been described as "...one of the most precious jewels Haiti has ever had."[6]
Lumane Casimir
Lumane Casimir was born in 1920, in Gonaïves, Haiti. Her known history began at the age of 13 when a pianist discovered her talents. At 14, she moved to Port-au-Prince with nothing but a guitar, questing her dreams.
It didn't take long for her to sing with some of the famous bands in Haiti. In 1949 she was chosen as the honorary singer to sing at the country's 145th years Independence Celebration in front of thousands of spectators from all over the world.
In 1951, Lumane mysteriously withdrew herself completely from the public's eyes at the height of her career. She went on to live in a tiny room in Port-au-Prince in poverty until she died a couple of years later at the age of only 35 from tuberculosis.
Her repertoire includes some of the most well known patriotic and cultural songs of Haiti, such as "Panama Mwen Tonbe" and "Papa Gede Bèl Gason.”
Lumane Casimir wrote almost all of her songs. Nowadays it is extremely rare to find copies of Lumane Casimir work. Her musics are mostly collected by lover and connoisseurs of classical Haitian Music.
Tafa Mi-Soleil
Evenie Rose Thafaïna Saint-Louis, better known by her stage name Tafa Mi-Soleil, was born in 1998, in Fort Jacques, Haiti. She is a rising star in Haitian music, with a unique voice and a deep commitment to promoting women's and minority rights. In addition to her music, Mi-Soleil involved in theater and painting.