Haiti Music Video

Mid-1960 known as the turning point of Haitian music, this was the time of popular middle class music movement. One of small music bands of that time, mini-djaz introduced kompa, (a well known music form of Haiti) in a more modern way. They transformed this traditional music form completely by pairing it with electric bass, electric guitar and other more trendy instruments. There was a lot of drumming in their music and they also not hesitated including saxophone and other uncommon Haitian instruments.

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In efforts conserve Haiti's precious music, the Foundation Haiti Jazz launched a media library called the "Kay Mizik La" or the "House of Music" at Port-au-Prince in the end of July. It was completed with the help of Haiti Music and Caracoli. The library aims to archive all Haitian musical works. The project was made possible with the funding of the European Union of more than $100,000 for nine months. The EU's goal is to strengthen Haiti's music industry because of its potential for both the country's economic and social development.

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The Kompa is not merely a Haitian music genre. It serves as hope for many Haitians. Its humble beginning can be traced back about sixty years ago, when legendary saxophonist and guitarist Nemours Jean-Baptiste created a new genre of Haitian music by fusing tradition Haitian meringue with contemporary music elements.

The lively Kompa is unique in its own. Its general sound can be immediately identified from other close genres with its warm and cheerful beat and its strong, heavy guitars, bass, percussion, and keyboards. Kompa lyrics are known for its purity and honesty, as it narrates the hardships and courage of Haitian people.

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Michel Martelly is the most powerful man in Haiti. But before he became president, Martelly was a former musician under the name "Sweet Micky" and was very popular and good at it. His music career spans for about twenty decades where he was able to release more than ten Kompa music albums. Martelly was a vocalist, a drummer, and a keyboardist and also used to own a club before being active in politics and eventually becoming Haiti's head of state

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Haitian-American Anna Pierre, entertainer and public health nurse, bridges her worlds in a unique way. She has crafted public service announcements (PSAs), to educate the public on HIV/AIDS transmission and its prevention.

Anna Pierre, when not performing, works as a Registered Nurse at Miami, Florida's, Jackson Memorial Hospital. She earned her Master's Degree in Public Health at Florida International University, doing research on the causes, transmission rates, and nature of communicable diseases.

Anna Pierre started a non-profit in 1990, APHEC, an education program designed to disseminate information on HIV/AIDS.

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The Haitian musician Beethova Obas was born in 1964. His father named Charles Obas was a popular painter who disappeared in October 1969 after a clear demonstration in front of the palace of the president located at Port-au-Prince.

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The colorful Caribbean country of Haiti held one of its most important festivals for the year, the Carnival of Flowers, during the last weekend of July. It was generally a success for the Martelly administration in its effort to have a less violent and safer, more secure festival.

In the first day of the festival, thousands and thousands of people crowded the streets of the capital Port-au-Prince to participate in the celebration. It was marked lively colors of costume and festive sounds of music. About 1,500 singers, dancers, and band members made the streets come to life, including the parade of queens in cars and thirteen music floats. The first day of the Carnival of Flowers lasted until three o'clock in the morning when most of the organizers and participants are preparing for the second day of the carnival.

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In the month of July 2012, Haiti had its earth-breaking cultural event that attracted many people both in the Diaspora as well as within. The cultural event was meant to celebrate a carnival of flowers which was intended to promote tourism in Haiti.

The minister for tourism, Stephanie Balmir Villedrouin said that the carnival was a great success of the whole thing. He said that flights to Haiti at that time were full as well as the bus stations. At the same time, hotels were full accommodating all sorts of people. About 65 million Gourdes were spent to facilitate this event. Beginning from July 29 to 31, about one people were in the streets of Port-Au-Prince.

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The music business is a matter of who is in and who is out. That is why being a musician is said to be one of the most unstable careers as there have been thousands of artists that have been pushed into the unknown. In Haiti, legendary pianist Fabrice Rouzier is one of the few that have been successful both inside and outside the music industry for the past thirty years.

Fabrice Rouzier began his love and talent for music at the very young age of four with the help of his aunt Marguerite Borno, who taught him how to play the piano. During his teenage years, he was already playing with legendary Haitian musicians and music producers. After two years, he created the band Mizik Mizik.

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Being among the best vocalists in Haiti, Jean-Claude Eugene is a good composer of songs. He has a strong tenor Voice. He went to Primary and Secondary school at Collège Notre Damein Cap Haitien where he got to play the trombone and later baritone as a member of the school band. He was also blessed to take part in "Petit Orchestre du CND". Being a guest at "Chorale Solidarite du Sacre-Coeur", he came up with an album "De men kontre" as he soloed in it.

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