Bélo
Encyclopedia
Bélo is the stage name of Jean Bélony Murat, who is a famous Haiti
an interpreter, composer and guitarist. His first album Lakou trankil (Quiet Streets) is treasured by Haitians because the songs explain and reflect the problems the country faces. Although poorly known in the English-speaking world, Bélo is popular in Europe and Africa where he won the Discovery RFI Prime in April 2006. This award had already helped other artists like Tiken Jah Fakoly
and Rokia Traoré
to reveal their talent in the music industry. Bélo's musical approach is influenced by other Caribbean styles but mostly by jazz and reggae.
and San, two artists who discovered his talent and encouraged him to play an instrument. At first, he chose the bass but changed later to the guitar. He knew that music could not be his only occupation if he was to please his supporters. He went to university in 2001 where he studied accounting for four years. Then he was ready to devote his life to music and released his first album in 2005.
and has a touch of pop and jazz. He exposed the social problems of humankind, such as violence, AIDS and homeless children. In other words, Bélo is an ambassador of the Haitian music; he shows love and affection for his homeland. In his songs he is making society aware of its problems and is proposing solutions.
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
an interpreter, composer and guitarist. His first album Lakou trankil (Quiet Streets) is treasured by Haitians because the songs explain and reflect the problems the country faces. Although poorly known in the English-speaking world, Bélo is popular in Europe and Africa where he won the Discovery RFI Prime in April 2006. This award had already helped other artists like Tiken Jah Fakoly
Tiken Jah Fakoly
Tiken Jah Fakoly is a reggae singer from Côte d'Ivoire.Tiken Jah was born into a family of griots and christened Doumbia Moussa Fakoly on June 23, 1968 in Odienné, north-western Côte d'Ivoire. He discovered reggae at an early age, assembling his first group, Djelys, in 1987...
and Rokia Traoré
Rokia Traoré
Rokia Traoré is a Victoires de la Musique award-winning Malian singer, songwriter and guitarist. Born in Mali as a member of the Bambara ethnic group, her father was a diplomat and she travelled widely in her youth. She visited such countries as Algeria, Saudi Arabia, France and Belgium and was...
to reveal their talent in the music industry. Bélo's musical approach is influenced by other Caribbean styles but mostly by jazz and reggae.
Life
Jean Bélony Murat was born on October 29, 1979, at Croix des Bouquet in the north of Port-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti. He grew up at Petion Ville an area where music has an important role in the Haitian community. He started to sing at a very young age and at 11 years old interpreted Buju Banton, his idol. In 1994, he and his friend formed the Mega Boys which was not very successful. In 1997, he met Fabrice RouzierFabrice Rouzier
Fabrice Rouzier is a Haitian pianist, producer, and entrepreneur who has been in the Haitian music industry for more than 20 years.-Musical career:...
and San, two artists who discovered his talent and encouraged him to play an instrument. At first, he chose the bass but changed later to the guitar. He knew that music could not be his only occupation if he was to please his supporters. He went to university in 2001 where he studied accounting for four years. Then he was ready to devote his life to music and released his first album in 2005.
Music
After Lakou trankil, the first album which had a lot of success locally and internationally, Bélo released Reference. This is also close to reggaeReggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
and has a touch of pop and jazz. He exposed the social problems of humankind, such as violence, AIDS and homeless children. In other words, Bélo is an ambassador of the Haitian music; he shows love and affection for his homeland. In his songs he is making society aware of its problems and is proposing solutions.