Michel Joseph Martelly President of Haiti, musician Date of Birth: 12.02.1961 Country: Haiti

Biography of Michel Joseph Martelly

Michel Joseph Martelly, also known as a composer, musician, and sociopolitical activist, was born in Haiti. He was born into a family of a manager of a local oil refinery. In his childhood, Michel became passionate about music and learned to play the piano.

After finishing school, Martelly attempted to study medicine but was not successful. He briefly attended a military academy but was expelled for being involved in an unplanned pregnancy with the daughter of a general. Eventually, Martelly married an American woman and moved to the United States, where he worked in a grocery store and attended a local college. However, his studies only lasted one semester, as he got divorced in 1986 and returned to Haiti.

Martelly did not stay in his homeland for long, quickly returning to America with a new girlfriend. In Miami, he married Sofia. He worked on local construction sites for a year before returning to Haiti, where Sofia had already given birth to their son, Olivier.

In Haiti, Martelly pursued his passion for music and performed as a keyboardist in local clubs. He eventually became one of the pioneers of the Haitian dance music style called "compas" or "kompa," accompanied by Creole singing. Martelly contributed significantly to popularizing his version of the style, often performing with small groups mainly using electronic instruments. His performances were often accompanied by humorous commentary on the country's current political situation.

Martelly became one of the most famous musicians in Haiti, but his fame also brought enemies and detractors. His musical career helped him establish useful connections, including friendships with Haitian government officials and American diplomats. Politics played a significant role in his music, and shortly after the overthrow of Jean-Bertrand Aristide, Martelly organized a free concert opposing his return to the country and American intervention in Haiti's affairs. Despite demands from politicians and government agents, Martelly steadfastly refused to stop criticizing the president and pro-American parties.

In 1997, Martelly participated in the filming of an educational video called "Knowledge is Power," addressing the pressing issue of HIV spread. In 2006, Martelly announced his retirement from music, but two years later, he released a new single.

In 2010, Martelly entered the presidential race. In the first round, he surpassed the main candidate from the ruling party. In the second round, Martelly faced off against the former first lady of the country, Mirlande Manigat. Preliminary data indicated that Martelly won the election on April 4, 2011, but exact results were not announced until April 16. Currently, Martelly resides in Haiti, although he also has a secondary residence in Palm Beach, Florida, in the United States. He has four children, and his marriage to Sofia remains strong.