Jean Jean Roosevelt was born in Grand-Anse, in the southwest of Haiti. He got his artistic calling from his mother: he was born while she was directing a local choir! His father, a guitarist, also added to his musical talent. The artist therefore grew up in an environment well suited to nurturing his own talent. He learned to play the guitar at age six and began winning local competitions.
In 2003, he left for Port-Au-Prince and studied art history. His talent as a composer was soon noticed, and he composed the theme for a very popular show on local television. He then launched his musical career, shaping his own distinctive style. His music, nurtured by varied influences, reflects the cultural brew inseparable from Haitian history. In Jean Jean Roosevelt’s music, Creole beats (Nago, Ibo Yanyalou, Djouba, Kongo) are blended with reggae, R&B and Afro-beat: this is the “tchyaka” style, a term meaning mixture in the Haitian Creole language.
His committed lyrics also build his artistic strength. Sung in French but sometimes also in Creole, his songs deal with themes such as public spirit, solidarity, gender equity, children’s rights and environmental preservation. He has put out several albums: Recommence in 2007, Pinga in 2009, Ya Danger in 2012, a compilation titled Mes Lavironndede in 2013 and, most recently, Direction in 2015, recorded in Senegal at the Prince Arts studios.
In 2013, he won the gold medal in the song category at the Jeux de la Francophonie in Nice, France, becoming ambassador for this athletic competition in 2015. The same year, he also won the TV5 Monde award and performed the opening act for Youssou N’dour in Bercy. His appearances at prestigious international festivals have proliferated, and with reason: his stage presence is unforgettable!
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