Like fine wine, it improves with age; like the butterfly; only during its flight can the richness of its colors be appreciated. Very early with the group Bossa Combo, his talent began to appear and he proved himself an integral part of this group not only with his singing but also with his writing. For those who would not have believed it, it is indeed Raymond Cajuste – a soul musician. “I was born a musician, I evolved and I’ve created my own path”. Indeed his path is quite lengthy. As an adventurer it is the same group named “Les Aventuriers” that welcomed him in 1966.
In 1968, Raymond jammed with a neighborhood group Shupa Shupa. Then his career really took off when he joined the group Bossa Combo. A few years later he leaves that group to perform with Les Difficiles de Petion-Ville (1975), then he joins shortly thereafter “Les Gypsies de Petion-Ville (1976). That same year he forms his own group “Aluces”. In 1977, his desire to return to his former group Bossa Combo leads him to depart his then current group Big One. Who doesn’t remember singing along to “Chère Madame” & “Accolade” in 1978 – two well-known hits written by none other than Raymond Cajuste himself? The song “Racine” on the album of the same name galvanizes the public and the song “Bonne Fête Papa” monopolizes the airwaves in 1980. It is also to his credit that Bossa Combo earns another hit with the song “Balthazar” in 1981, and subsequently “Joane” in 1984 and “Arozwa” in 1985.
At this point, Raymond had reached a level of professionalism that the man and the musician had become one and had elevated his notoriety to new heights. His desire to create his own musical universe lead him to work with various Haitian producers with the company Muzik Arts to produce a new album with a different direction, embracing different genres of Haitian music such as balad, konpa direk, twoubadou, rasin. Since his musical style has no boundaries, it is sure to go beyond oceans. Raymond has also collaborated on several projects such as: Haitiando Vol. II & III, Finesse I & II, Mario de Volcy Vol. I, II, III, IV. Tuco Bouzi and “Les Freres Dejean” Vol. I & II, Les Rois du Compas, Mini All Stars Miami Live, Ayiti Twoubadou Live, Creolitude! Wow!!! If it is true that one must mold the iron while it is still hot, Raymond has taken his time to perfect his career.
For the good to be transformed into excellency, Raymond has surrounded himself with the best musicians in the business. It’s been ten years since Raymond Cajuste had hoped to present himself on a whole new level and “…with the ingenuity of Muzik Arts and under the artistic direction of Mario De Volcy, my dream has come true” says Raymond Cajuste. As it is with the emptiness of a wave and the gust of wind or the desert of the inspiration, Raymond knew that he had to believe and he did. Filled with emotion Raymond added: “Music is my life, it accompanies me tirelessly, I have never stopped, it is my moral support by excellence.
