Michel Martelly
Who was Michel Martelly?
Popular musician known as 'Sweet Micky' who transitioned from entertainment to politics, serving as President of Haiti from 2011 to 2016. He was known for his kompa music before entering politics.
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Michel Martelly (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Michel Joseph Martelly was born on February 12, 1961, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. He went to Institution Saint-Louis de Gonzague for his education and later attended Miami Dade College in the U.S. Martelly spent his early years between Haiti and the U.S., especially Florida, a pattern that continued in his career. He married Sophia Saint Rémy Martelly and became both a businessman and entertainer before getting into politics.
Martelly first became known as a musician under the stage name "Sweet Micky," becoming one of Haiti's most famous performers for over a decade. As a singer and keyboardist, he specialized in kompa music, a traditional Haitian dance music sung mainly in Haitian Creole. He modernized the music by using synthesizers and electronic instruments, creating a "new generation" of kompa with smaller, more advanced bands. From 1989 to 2008, Martelly recorded over a dozen studio albums and many live recordings, becoming a key figure in Haitian pop music.
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Martelly worked as both a musician and club owner in Haiti. His business dealings connected him with controversial political figures, including police chief Michel François and members of the neo-Duvalierist military. When a military coup overthrew President Jean-Bertrand Aristide in 1991, Martelly supported the move. This stance turned risky when Aristide returned to power in 1995, and Martelly found himself on a list of coup supporters, forcing him to leave Haiti for nearly a year. During his time away, he released the song "Prezidan" on his album "Pa Manyen," asking for a president who played kompa music.
Martelly shifted from entertainment to politics in 2010 by launching a presidential campaign. He won the election and was Haiti's 47th president from 2011 until he stepped down in 2016. After leaving office, he returned to music, performing with his former band and releasing songs with political themes, including "Bal Bannann nan," aimed at Haitian journalist Liliane Pierre Paul. However, his time after the presidency took a turn when the United States sanctioned him on August 20, 2024, for alleged drug trafficking, especially cocaine, and for allegedly supporting gangs in Haiti.
Before Fame
Before becoming famous as Sweet Micky, Michel Martelly grew up in a politically and socially turbulent Haiti under the Duvalier family dictatorship. This had an impact on the environment he was raised in. He attended prestigious schools in both Haiti and the United States, which exposed him to different musical styles and business practices.
Martelly entered the music industry during a time of change in Haitian popular music. Traditional kompa bands were usually large, but advances in technology during the 1980s made it possible for smaller groups with electronic instruments. Martelly took advantage of this trend by mixing his musical talents with business skills as a club owner, gaining performance experience and business know-how that would later help in his political career.
Key Achievements
- Served as the 47th President of Haiti from 2011 to 2016
- Recorded over a dozen studio albums and numerous live CDs as Sweet Micky between 1989 and 2008
- Pioneered a "new generation" style of kompa music using electronic instruments and smaller bands
- Successfully transitioned from music career to winning Haiti's presidential election in 2010
- Became one of Haiti's most recognizable musicians for over a decade under the stage name Sweet Micky
Did You Know?
- 01.He released a song called "Prezidan" while in exile that prophetically called for a president who played kompa music, years before he actually ran for office
- 02.After his presidency ended, he returned to music and released "Bal Bannann nan" as a mocking response to journalist Liliane Pierre Paul
- 03.He had to flee Haiti for almost a year in 1995 when his name appeared on a hit list due to his support of the 1991 military coup
- 04.He modernized traditional kompa music by using synthesizers and smaller bands instead of the traditional large ensembles
- 05.He was sanctioned by the United States in 2024 for alleged cocaine trafficking and gang sponsorship