70 Years of Compas Direct: Nemours Jean-Baptiste, the Pioneer

Seventy years ago, on July 26, 1955, a band was born on Sainte-Anne Square that would go on to revolutionize Haitian music: the Conjunto International, the first iteration of what would become the Ensemble Nemours Jean-Baptiste. That night, in front of Chez Maggy, Nemours performed alongside Julien Paul, Wébert Sicot, Monfort Jean-Baptiste, Mozart, and Kreutzer Duroseau.

Yet this launch was merely the culmination of a long journey. Born in Port-au-Prince on February 2, 1918, Nemours Jean-Baptiste grew up in the alley known as Lakou Labissière. After three years of primary school, he became a guitarist, a soccer player for Racing Club Haïtien, a tailor, a barber, and a shoemaker.

He began his musical career as a guitarist in Anilus Cadet’s Trio (Radio HH2S), introduced to music by his neighbor François Guignard. He later formed the Trio Anacaona with Dodo G

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