Born :2/12/1961 Country
:Haiti
Best known for/as: Compas music's most colorful superstar
Biography:
Michel Martelly, better known as "Sweet Micky", was born in
Port-au-Prince, Haiti. He grew up in the Port-Au-Prince suburb
of Carrefour with his brother and four sisters. Micky credits
veteran Compas bands, Skah Shah, Frere Dejean, Tabou Combo
and Cesaria Evora, a singer from the Cape Verde Islands as
being influential on his music.
Micky first began performing as a one man band in 1988 in
the Casinoes in Haiti. He released his first hit "Ou La La"
in 1988. Two years later Micky expanded the band to include
a bass player and a percussionist and by the release of the
album "I Don't Care" in 1994 Sweet Micky was a household name
in Haitian communities at home and abroad.
Over the past decade, Martelly has won the hearts of the Haitian
people through his musical talent and charismatic persona.
His music blends Haitian music with new interpretations of
compas, roots, salsa, Caribbean soca and jazz-fusion. His
persona and satirical lyrics ignite great controversy throughout
the Haitian diaspora. The only thing which is predictable
about Sweet Micky is that he is completely un-predictable,
he has been known to wear Diapers, Mini-Skirts and other shocking
outfits onstage.
When Wyclef Jean of the Fugees needed someone to spark the
flames for his Carnival album, it was Martelly whom he called
upon to record the title song. As Wyclef proclaims while the
"Carnival" tempo rises tumultuously, "Surprise - it's Sweet
Micky, y'all!"
Sweet Micky is often referred to as the "Bad Boy" of Haitian
music, but this description is music more appropriate in its
American slang definition where "bad" means really, really
good. In 1997, Michel Martelly showed the world that his musical
talent is a continuous means toward a very positive end by
donating his time to participate in "Knowledge is Power",
an HIV educational music video with a powerful message about
preventing the spread of HIV.
Based in Haiti, Martelly tours incessantly performing throughout
the U.S., Haiti, Canada, the Caribbean and Europe. His wife
Sophia handles the business affairs of the band, together
they have 4 children. In his spare time Micky enjoys playing
soccer.
Sweet Micky Links: Sweet
Micky's Offical Site | Sweet
Micky's Calendar | Digital
Records | Kompamania
Spotlight on Sweet Micky
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