New
York- Skah Shah #1, one of the most celebrated Haitian Konpa band , is to regroup
for a reunion tour, complete with Jean Elie Telfort " cubano", Loubert Chancy,
Jean Michel Saint Victor "Zouzoul" and Johnny Frantz Toussaint "Ti
Fre" among others.
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| Shak
Shah #1 Core member, zouzoul, Ti Fre, Cubano & Louber. click on picture to
enlarge |
The
last time the original members of this band performed together was in New York
City nearly a decade ago. The reunion of Skah Shah is very exciting and welcome
news to Haitian music fans, particularly the older generation. Recently there
were reports that Shak Shah #1 will resurface in the Haitian music industry, but
many industry critics were very skeptical about the band's reunion. The core members
and founders of Skah Shah
#1 announced officially on Saturday September 20, 2003, that the band will be
reunited to go on tour and will record a new album.
The
group Shak Shah #1 recorded its first album in 1974. Their hit singles included
"Haiti", "Caroline", "Sentiment", "Ozanana", "Macho man",and "Bel Ti machande"
to name a few. Back in the seventies, Skah Shah was the band that inspired a whole
new generation with positive lyrics and new energy which swept through the popular
Haitian culture. This in turn created a fresh musical archive for Haitian mini
jazz by harnessing the power of the electric guitar and konpa's uncompromising
rhythms. Skah Shah went on to record more than ten albums before they broke up
in the early 1990's.
Now
looking forward to a new beginning and bright future, the musicians of Shak Shah
#1 are about to make history by performing in a series of concerts and also record
a new album. It is unfortunate that Skah Shah's original guitar player, Mario
Mayala, who died four years ago, will not be there to witness this miracle, "the
reunion of Shak Shah #1". According to Jensen Derosier, Phantoms' drum player
and producer of the tour and the key person who was instrumental in getting the
band together again, Shak Shah #1 will give its first performance in New York
City on November 27, 2003. The location has not yet been disclosed. More information
will be made available to the public as soon as it becomes available. As a prelude
to Haiti's bicentennial independence, Skah Shah #1 will be performing together
in a series of concert in New York, Miami, Canada, Haiti, and the French Antilles.
Let
Know know what do you think of Shak Shah's reunion post your coment here
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Story Published on Cubano and Skah Shah: by Scheeler & edited Rene Devis |
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Jena Elie Tefort "Cubano ", The Legend
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by scheeler devis |
When
you think of Shak Shah #1, one individual who stands apart from everyone in the
band is Jean Elie Telfort a.k.a Cubano or the God father of Compas. Jean Elie
Telfort's majestic voice has captivated audiences from all over Haiti, New York,
the French Caribbean and Europe. Undeniably, Shak Shah has had an immensurable
impact in the Haitian music industry. In fact, one cannot speak of compas (konpa)
legacy without referring to Shak Shah's contributions to the music. Shak Shah
the band was known for versatile vocalizing, superior songwritings, and having
a harmonious horn section. The group also displayed brilliance in making other
people's compositions their own. Shak Shah's discography is a rich collection
of warm, soulful creole music, mixed with Afro-Cuban and meringue, including one
of compas' greatest song " Haiti" and other classic songs like "Caroline", " Ozanna",
"sentiment".
Unquestionably,
Jean Elie Telfort, a gifted vocalist, was one of the forces behind Shak Shah's
success in the 70's, 80's, and 90's, which was then the flourishing peak of Compas
(konpa) music in Haiti. There may have been other singers who were more popular,
or equally skilled, but no other Haitian singer has been so influential on the
course of popular Haitian music in the last three decades. Cubano's influence
has only grown in the 21st century. His throaty howls and his vocal technique
has been copied by singers who came after him.
Cubano
was a teenager in the summer of 1964, when Gerald Dupervil (one of the biggest
star in the 60's and 70's) and his band Riverside came to Port-De-Paix to perform
for the town's annual party (fete Patronage). By chance Riverside's bass player
was unable to make the trip and Cubano's music instructor urged him to approach
Dupervil to fill the void. After several hours of rehearsals, Cubano managed to
play the bass flawlessly and efficiently for the band. This experience would become
perhaps the most important influence on the young dreamer musical career. Despite
his success, Cubano still maintained his focus to stay in school.
After
attending high school for three years at "Notre Dame De Lourdes" of Port-de-Paix,
Cubano moved to Port-Au-Prince in 1967 to complete his studies at "Lycee Petion.
Soon after, Cubano enrolled at Crane Institution where he earned a degree in accountancy
in 1969. Between 1965 and 1969 Cubano traveled back and forth from Port-au- Prince
to his home town. Each and every summer, Cubano played organized soccer with his
peers while remaining a faithful choir vocalist with his local church. Soon his
passion for singing gave way to the formation of a small youthful band known as
"Pearl Des Antilles" which featured his schoolmates and childhood friend Roge
M.Eugene (Tabou Combo lead singer), Jean Alcindor, Max Maurin, and Michel Jardotte.
.
CUBANO'S
SECOND BIG BREAK - In 1967, Cubano received a letter from his friend Roge M. Eugene
a.k.a Shoubou informing him that Shleu-Shleu was looking for a lead singer. The
next day Cubano boarded a bus to Port-au-Prince just to take part in the auditioning
process that was being held by the group.
Shleu
Shleu maestro was marveled by Cubano charisma and vocal skills; (and Cubano's
musical career began as such). Within a few months Cubano established himself
as a monarch in Haitian music. His voice can be heard at the pinnacle of La Citadel
(Haiti greatest monument). From the moment he sang Haiti "toup pou yo" - the famous
Haitian soccer anthem of the national soccer team (Emmanuel Sannon, Thompous,
Philip Vobe) that made it to the World Cup to Munik Germany 1970-- Cubano came
of age as a singer and indisputably established himself as one of the premier
singers of Compas music .
In
1973, Cubano, the godfather of compas, left Haiti to begin a new journey in New
York. While studying Computer science at Queens College, Cubano teamed up with
Arsene Appolon, Loubert Chancy, Johnny Frantz Toussaint, Mario Malaya and Georges
Fancis to launch one of the most successful compas bands in that era, Skah-Shah.
The group performed for the first time in July 29, 1974 at the Malibu Night Club
in New York.
As
the group's appeal broadened in the 70's, Arsene Appollon left in 1976 to form
Skah-Shah D'Haiti. Cubano became more of a leader for the group. He helped to
steer Skah-shah #1 in the right the direction. The group eventually recorded several
hit albums from 1973 until the original group's dissolution in 1992.
Many
people thought that was the end of Skah-Shah # 1 and Cubano. Jean Elie telfort
was determined not to watch his dream fade away. By the 1990's "Nouvel Generation
konpa," a popular new trend in Haitian music was in full swing. Neither Compas
Direct nor Shak Shah was very appealing to a new generation of Haitian but Cubano
was not discouraged by the lack of interest in compas to re-introduce Shah Shah
to the general public. He defiantly revitalized Shak Shah in 1993 by bringing
younger and more talented musicians. These musicians were Marc Arios (one of the
premier konpa guitar player), Yves Abel, Welmir Jean Pierre, and veteran musician
Richard Durosseau (a
sharp and fierce pianist and accordionist who played with Nemours Jean Baptiste),Camille
Armand (1974), Claude Degrottes, Claudy Aladin----Read
More- Read More
