Ram was formed in Port-au-Prince, Haiti in the summer of 1990. Richard Morse, an American-born, third generation Haitian performer, founded the band by blending his western musical background with the pulsing rhythms of Haitian folkloric traditions. The rhythms and melodies are a testament to Haiti’s African Heritage, further expanded due to intermingling with the native Indians of Haiti during the colonial slave period. Click here for Ram’s Bio.
Opa: I read somewhere that you went to Haiti to study “voodoo drum” is that true?
RM: I was a musician living in New York. My mother, Emerante de Pradines, is Haitian and my father was American. I wanted to come to Haiti to use the local rhythms in my music. I thought it would make great dance music.
Opa: If that’s true, how long ago was that and how did you end up turning it into your permanent home?
RM: That was back in 1985. I arrived in Haiti about 4 months before Duvalier left. All the political turmoil made it very difficult to pursue my music. People also thought at the time that it was crazy to put Vodou rhythms in music. I finally put RAM together in 1990. Other bands were doing it too. People eventually started calling it <Racine> music.
Opa: I understand you grew up in the states in an urban setting, so rural Haiti was probably a new discovery right?
RM: I grew up in New England, mostly Connecticut. I also spent a lot of time in New Jersey and then New York. It sure was different than Haiti, especially all the shooting. There was no shooting in my neighborhood when I was growing up. When I was sixteen I spent the summer in Haiti with my cousins, so I knew Haiti a little bit. I liked it very much. My cousin, Michel Martelly also became a musician.
Opa: -Can you name the very few new people you met in Haiti and what was most meaningful about meeting those people…for your self personally?
RM: I live in a hotel (The Oloffson) so I meet a lot of foreigners. I meet a lot of people in the press. I also meet people in Film, music, writers, and all kinds of people. I’ve met Haitian Presidents and I also met President Clinton when he came to visit the hotel. I love going to the Haitian provinces also. It’s like going back in time. The people are so respectful.
Opa: Why exactly did you go into voodoo (roots) music?
RM: I just thought it would make great dance music. That was the original reason. When I make music, I love to make people dance. I didn’t realize there were all these issues about Vodou when I first came to Haiti. People get really uptight about it. When you listen to the words, the message is powerful. Haitians have a very strong culture but many Haitians don’t go find out the truth. They just listen to the lies. Haitian history is in those songs.
Opa: What are your favorite songs besides Ram?
RM: My favorite Haitian bands are Coupe Cloue and Gerard Dupervil, with and without Jazz des Jeunes. I love to take my wife Lunise to see Tabou Combo live. They’re awesome.
Opa: I Love “Puritan Voodoo” cd…Can you tell readers the story of how this extraordinary collection came about?
RM: My father’s family is Protestant (Puritan) and my mother’s family is Haitian. That’s how I came up with the name Puritan Vodou. If you follow American music to its roots, you’re going to end up in a tribe in Africa. American music comes from black culture. That’s why when we play the blues on the Puritan record; we can play it on top of a Nago Rhythm. You can learn these rhythms and dances in any Haitian Folklore class.
Opa: Have you recorded any songs that have not been put on albums?
RM: We didn’t use to put the carnival songs on our CDs but we finally did a compilation of them called RAM 4 Madi Gra. Most songs get on the albums but not all.
Opa: What is the next single going to be?
RM: The current single in Haiti is called Justice. We want Justice for all our friends and neighbors. We want Justice, for people, we don’t even know. Over the years you end up seeing a lot of injustice. Sometimes you just want to scream. We have to be strong. We have to learn from our mistakes and stick together.
Opa: What’s the future album?
RM: The next album is RAM 6 The Tribe of Mixed Race People.
Opa: Does your wife Lunise help decide what goes on the album?
RM: LUNISE is very involved in the records. She has to sing most of them. Some times there is a particular song she wants to sing a certain way.
Opa: Do you think you’ll ever get back to the popularity you once had?
RM: We’ve been away. Since 2000 we’ve been touring in the United Kingdom. We’re coming to the States soon. You folks are in for a true surprise. I don’t think a lot of you realize just how good Haitian music can get.
Opa: When did you realize your passion for music?
RM: I always liked music. My mother was a singer; my grandfather Candjo was a singer. My cousins are in bands. It’s what we do.
Opa: Tell me about your musical influences?
RM: I just like good music whether it’s Bob Marley or Jimi Hendrix, I like the blues, I like some rock music, I like some salsa, whatever’s good. I watch BET sometimes with the kids. 50 Cent (Whom I call deux gouden), whatever. I prefer when the music has positive messages. The <boy/girl stuff (ti cheri kenbe’m fo) can get a little old.
Opa: Some song writers concentrate on exposing the dark or ugly side of life and some are drawn to showing the beauty…which one do you fall into?
RM: You have night and you have day. I like the beauty, especially in the melody of a song. Sometimes you can have a message that warns you, for instance, manje ave yo, mwen bwe ave yo, se mwen ki pou veye zo’m>. A warning can be dark. Hypocrites and traitors often surround us. You have to be careful. That’s dark, but the warning is positive.
Opa: Do you write your lyrics first or the music when writing a song?
RM: It doesn’t matter which comes first. Each song is different. Take it as it comes.
Opa: How did you and your wife meet?
RM: My wife, Lunise, was a dancer before she sang. I fell in love the first time I saw her. We were married three months later.
Opa: The accident float in the Carnival happened like a sign of destiny…it must have been the most devastating thing that ever happened to you…but seems at the same time that accident strengthened your life and made you more reflective on life…your songs ‘ messages became deeper…could you elaborate on that?
RM: I wasn’t going to go out for the carnival. The President and the chief of police came to my house and said I had to go out. I told Mme President the next day that someone was going to try and kill me during carnival She didn’t believe me. I told her I would go on the float but nothing would happen to me. Many people died but if you believe the brakes went out you don’t know the truth. We were on the flat ground in front of the REX at a full stop. The chauffer was part of the <complot>. Our songs were always deep. Haitian culture is deep.
Opa: Do you believe in God?
RM: I believe in God. I’ve seen God. God is Light; God is Love, just like they say in Apocalypse.
Opa: Are you planning any tour?
RM: I’m trying to get to the States soon. I miss it. I miss all you folks. I want to have a good time with you all.
Opa: Hotel Oloffson, which you own plays a great part in Haitian history. ”The Comedian “ by Graham Gene was staged there in 1966 and many celebrities have visited there such as Julia Robert, Jean Claude Van Dam, Jonathan Demme, and many others. How hard are you working to bring back this tradition?
RM: I’ve met Julia Roberts, Jean Claude Van Dam and Jonathan Demme, plus a whole lot of others. We try and promote Haitian culture and we try and remove prejudice from our society. You have to be positive.
Opa: Is the Thursday night gig at the hotel still happening? If yes; is it still the place to be on Thursdays in Haiti?
RM: Thursday nights are still rocking at the Oloffson but we don’t usually play in September and October. We try and work on our records during that time.
Opa: Last words to our readers?
RM: Love you all, hope to see you soon!!!!!
