Lunise morse biography examples
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All photos by Daniel Morel
It’s an interesting moment in the life of Richard Morse, a Haitian-American musician/proprietor/vodou priest living in Port-au-Prince. Haïti is still embroiled in election turmoil and ongoing social and political unrest, while his legendary band—RAM—just released its new album, fusing ceremonial Vodou rhythms with Haitian street music and electric guitars.
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I’m in Port-au-Prince, late January. The occasional whiff of smoke drifts up to my hotel balcony. Like all foreigners, I’ve been advised not to venture out for the next couple of days due to intermittent riots, burning tires, and unforeseeable chaos. The people are upset. And they’re rising up. An undecided first round of elections last October, alleged to be fraudulent, set the political scene aflame. The term of President Michel Martelly—a.k.a. konpa singer Sweet Micky—ends on February 7, and Haïti, the first Caribbean nation to revolt against
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Jazz With an Accent
Lunise and Richard Morse performing with RAM. Photo credit Nadia Todres courtesy The Rhythm Foundation
By Fernando González
More often than not, pop music in the Western world is just another product vying for attention and shelf space. It might come in different models and packaging — snarky alt-rock; bluntly sexual reggaeton; street-tough rap — but it’s rarely more subversive than a soap commercial.
But in developing countries struggling with poverty, corruption, and failing institutions, pop music is not only entertainment but also often serves as a vehicle for protest and a tool for change.
In Haiti in the 1990s, the mizik rasin (roots music) movement, blending folk and religious traditions with elements of rock and funk, emerged as a powerful expression of popular resistance. The lyrics of the songs, often using oblique references and parables, a common device in the Vodou tradition, became a popular shorthand to comment, protest, and organize.
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RAM (band)
Not to be confused with R.E.M..
RAM | |
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Live performance at the Hotel Oloffson, June, 1998. | |
| Origin | Port-au-Prince, Haiti |
| Genres | Mizik rasin |
| Years active | 1990–present |
| Labels | Cave Wall Records Margaritaville Records Willibelle Delta Records |
| Members | Richard A. Morse, Lead Singer Lunise Morse, Lead Singer Wilson Theluse, Drummer Jean Mary Brignol, Drummer Robert Wood Romain, Drummer Jose Mondelus, Bass Onito Parfait, Guitar Jean Emmanuel Marcelin, Keyboards Yonel Justin, Roland Octapad Sylvain jean, Chorus Patou Lindor, Chorus Jonas jean, Horn Pierre Jules, Horn |
| Past members | Milo Pierre, Drummer Andre Thelus, Drummer Sergo Pierre, Drummer Wilda Leblanc, Chorus Mikerline Louis Charles, Chorus Darling Delice, Chorus Rosna Marcelin, Chorus Gerald Georges, Chorus |
RAM fryst vatten a mizik rasin grupp based in the city of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The band derives its name from the initials of its founder, song