BelO se yon gran atis. Voye Ayiti monte !!!

NEWS
Belo’s “Reference” Tour in full effect @SOB’s-Aug 22

With a newly released album, "Reference," in full effect, BelO is raring to be heard--not just as singer/songwriter, but also as Haiti's advocate of peace.

The "Reference" tour has been leaving its footprints on the musical scene in Haiti, France, Canada and Africa. Now, New York has a chance to see BelO perform at Sob's on Friday August 22, 2008.

When BelO debuted with "Lakol Trankil" 3 years ago it was clear that the Radio France International award winner of 2006 would be the new Haitian prodigy. BelO's second album "Reference," a fusion of Haitian roots, reggae and smooth jazz soul, is an affirmation that the talented musician's style has matured, and has become more vocal on humanitarian issues. "Mwen Bouke" (track 4) and Timoun Yo (track 6) are as loud as it gets on injustice. The reggae back beat track "Lakol Trankil" has become BelO's musical dance trademark. This album is anything but cliché while seeking peace, change and respect.

During the "Reference" tour BelO performed in front of a large crowd at the Jardin du Monde Festival in France, in the presence of the Governor General of Canada Michaelle Jean for the celebration of 400 years of Quebec, at the Palace Congress in Benin, and in Haiti.

BelO and his band capture the essence of the album in their live performance.
If you have never seen BelO live on stage, you must not miss this chance. It might just change your outlook on life.

BelO


Biography

Born in 1979, in Croix-des-Bouquet, Haïti, just like musician Wyclef Jean, Jean Bélony Murat, known by most as BélO, is a young talented singer and songwriter. Belo's music is a mix of reggae, vodou and soul beats, and even flirts with the jazz genre.

Since childhood BélO has shown an undeniable interest and talent for music.
Always involved in school cultural events he made his stage debut at age eleven: singing songs from the repertoire of some of his favorite singers (Buju Banton, Eddy François, Alan Cavé). He has been dreaming of a musical career ever since.

To further his chance of making it in the musical arena he started taking guitar lessons. Continuously encouraged by his family and mostly by his brother Charlot (now also his manager), he welcomed every chance to perform, that can explain now his "so-at-ease" and confident attitude in front of crowds.

In 1998, his vocal prowess got him noticed at "Sun Auto's Traditional Christmas Fair" during he was performing with the band "Sokute".

As a result, he was approached by producer Jean Marc Appolon and two major players of the Haitian music arena, Fabrice Rouzier and Kéké Bélizaire of "Haiti Troubadours". With the help of these musicians and the members of "Sokute", Belo came in 2nd place at the CODECSO's « Chante Nwèl » Christmas Song Contest in December 2001.

In 2005, he recorded his first album : Lakou trankil. The ten songs, except one, were written, composed and arranged by Bélo. They talk of love (god's, mother's, sentimental), unity, respect for one another and call upon listeners to reflect on many social issues. Titles like "Match", "Dioré", "Lov pou Lov"' and "Jasmine" are very solicited by fans and are regularly on the radio stations billboards.

Since then, with his talented musicians, Bélo performed at many important Haitian festivals and venues: Musique en Folie, Institut Français and Alliances françaises of Haiti, River Festival of Cavaillon, International film Festival of Jacmel, etc. Appreciated for his talent and his personality, BélO become the "darling" of the general public.

In november 2006, he won the Radio RFI contest "Découvertes 2006" after the Haitian Beethova Obas (1988) and the Ivoiry coast singer Tiken Jah Fakoly (2000). Bélo began his international career with several tours in Europe, West Africa and Canada, and He participated at prestigious festivals like "Musiques Métisses" of Angouleme (France) and "Francofolies" of Montreal (Canada).

International shows :
2006- RFI Competition, Douala, Cameroun
-African tour organized by the French cooperation (Cultures France), SACEM and the Francophony International Organization : Mali, Togo, Ghana, Niger, Burkina Faso, Sénégal (April-May)
- Festival "Musiques Métisses", Angoulême, France (May)
-Canadian Tour organized by the Office Franco-Québécois pour la Jeunesse (June)
-"Francofolies" de Montréal, Canada (August)

Musicians
BelO : Lead Vocal and Acoustic Guitar
Andy Barrow: Electric Guitar
Laine Emanuel : Drum
Duverne Charlson: Keyboard
Dunny Felix: Bass
Tom Mitchell: Horn

Discography
Reference (Aztec Musique/Discograph) ® 2008
Lakou Trankil ® 2005 ( Soley Sounds )
Compilation Francophone ( 2008 )

Press link click here:
Frontline World PBS
http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/rough/2007/12/haiti_belos_son.html/> http://www.afrik.com/article14556.html/> http://www.rfimusique.com/musiquefr/articles/102/article_17278.asp/>

More info click here:
www.belohaiti.com
www.sonicbids.com/belohaitireference
www.myspace.com/belo123
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55qLrLtcWHw/> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I52bgYzr1ng/>
Music video click here:
https://www.youtube.com/user/natiprod/>

Sassaye

Thank you very much for this presentation of this haitian singer.Although I never heard his songs, he seems to be one of the better new artists of this generation,according to the way you describe his talent.I am glad to read about him,particularly because of his origin and the lyrics of his songs.I always love musicians who sing about the inequities of our society:this is the reason I like Manno charlemagne so much;by the way, what happened to him?is he still performing?If Charles Aznavour , Jacques Brel and nana mouskouri are still performing I do not understand why Manno should abandon his musical career for politics.

I wish Belo success.

Mèsi Sanmalis,

Se pou nou pa bliye rekonèt jenn atis ki ap fè Ayiti onè dan le mond.
Ak talan yo, ya p efase wont ki lan figi nou.
Wont ke politisyen, ayisyen san konsyans, kominote entènasyonal ap mete toulejou pou peyi ki pi pov soulatè.

Si ki pi enpotan pou Belo, se an Ayiti li fè tout pwogrè li.
Se la li reyonnen.
Li soti Ayiti pou l al genyen lan gwo konpetisyon a letranje epi li tounen lakay li.
Lè yo bezwen l , se an Ayiti ya l chèche l.

Il ne m'arrive pas souvent d'apprécier les gens mais j'aime ce garcon et particulièrement sa chanson Lakou Trankil. Dans un milieu ou les jeunes sont livrés à eux-memes et condamnés au banditisme, ce génie a pu se frayer un passage.

Ceux qui ne connaissent pas encore Bélo, peuvent cliquer sur ce lien pour lire et découvrir la beauté du texte Lakou Trankil :

http://www.lematinhaiti.com/Article.asp?ID=3639