KONPA
KREYOL BROKE UP
New
York, NY
By
Rene Devis, Heritagekonpa
Magazine
Konpa
Kreyol, one of the most versatile digital konpa groups has broken up.
After
nearly eight years together and three critically acclaimed albums, Konpa Kreyol's
members have decided to put an end to their string of continuous and chart-topping
hits. Over the course of three studio compact discs and numerous live compilations,
Konpa Kreyol cemented their position among Haitian konpa's elite as a diverse
and original act capable of dazzling young and old fans alike.
The decision
to break up the band was reached less than one month ago, when keyboardist David
Dupoux, singer Joe Zenith (Ti Joe), and the rest of the band reconvened for a
meeting following the "Second Annual Haitian Music Festival, which took place
in Miami, Florida on January 15, 2005.
David
Dupoux, konpa kreyol's co-founder and compositor, was physically assaulted by
the festival's security employees. According to published reports, David expressed
discontent with the promoter's behavior and the little support he received from
his bandmates. This incident apparently fractured konpa kreyol's business relationship
and put a strain on the group's future. Why break up you say?
Sources
close to the group described the decision as a culmination of problems, rather
than a direct reaction to the aforementioned incident. Personal and business issues,
mostly between David and Ti Joe, caused an irreparable rift that ultimately led
to the band's dissolution.
According
to several radio reports in Haiti, David, who owns the intellectual rights to
konpa, and his sister/manager were reportedly getting over 45 percent of the groups'
total revenues. Konpa Kreyol's other band members were not very pleased with the
whole situation. Details at this point are very sketchy, but it is official that
David and Konpa Kreyol have gone their separate ways.
While
the breakup is indeed sad news for the fans, Joe and former members of Konpa Kreyol
have already launched their own band titled "KREYOL LA". "Ti Ansito",
Top Digital keyboardist and the son of Haitian famous keyboard player Ansito Mercier,
have been chosen to replace David Dupoux. The group will make its debut in Haiti
on March 5, 2005. Heritagekonpa magazine correspondents will be present on the
scene to report on "Kreyol La's debut party.
We
have attempted to contact David Depoux and former bandmates for this story, but
our calls were never returned.
Related
links: The
emergence of Konpa Kreyol
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