The Tropicana Orchestra comes from the CARIBBEAN Orchestra which was born in the 1950s. The story goes that it was a Cuban mercenary, Basile COTTY who, paradoxically, suggested the name: Tropicana to maestro Claudin or Glaudin. The history of the Tropicana seems somewhat singular and surprising. Who would have imagined that this Orchestra, today a national reference, would experience dark moments soon after its creation.
The adventure began in August 1963 in Cap-Haitien, in the northern metropolis with his first maestro, Emmanuel Turenne, later joined by Charlemagne Pierre-Noel, the musical director. The Orchestra struggled to function due to the strong social pressures. It could not occur in the intellectual, upscale circles that were considered the preserve of the North. Tropicana was the orchestra of the underprivileged, so it was relegated to the background. If ever he had to play somewhere, in a disadvantaged environment of course, it was for a pittance.
At that time, French music and Latin music were very popular in Haiti. You had to come up with something better to succeed in establishing yourself in an area that is already very hostile to you. Would the presence of Tropicana with his famous singer Pierre Féquière Joseph, better known under the name of Giordany Joseph (Fat man), change things?
This one excelled in French songs, boleros and potpourri especially. He was a sure reference, his voice filled the Orchestra in all its compartments. He had become a charming singer with French songs and his boleros, of which he alone had the secret. In his style, he was unique. The artist was an extraordinary lyricist. He added memorable texts to the Tropicana repertoire such as: “Rosemarie”, “Marie Madelaine”, “Rosie” and “Philomise” that Charlemagne Pierre-Noel and Daniel Larivière had orchestrated. His favorite text was “Le Nègre”, arranged by Professor Jean Janvier Muselaire.
These compositions greatly helped the Orchestra to become known, to establish itself and to explore other regions of the country. With the help of certain media, the Tropicana of Haiti was beginning to gain popularity. Radio hosts such as Joseph Solon and Denis H. Mathurin have greatly contributed to the popularization of the Orchestra. Other popular programs such as the Tropic Club of Port-au Prince spread his compositions across the country and made them popular day by day.
