BIOGRAPHY

Jean Jean Roosevelt Was born in Grand-Anse, in the southwest of Haiti. He inherited his artistic talentfrom his parents; in fact, he is said to have been born while his mother was leading a local choir! His father was a guitarist, so the artist grew up in an environment conducive to nurturing his own talent. He began learning to play the guitar at the age of six and regularly won local competitions from then on. Arriving in Port-au-Prince in 2003, he studied art history. His talent as a composer was quickly recognized, and he composed the theme song for a very popular local television show. He then embarked on his musical career, forging a style all his own. His music, influenced by various sources,reflects the cultural blend that is inseparable from Haitian history. In Jean Jean Roosevelt’s work, Creole Rhythms (Nago, Ibo Yanyalou, Djouba, Kongo) mingle with reggae, R&B, afrobeat, and modern sounds.As a songwriter and composer, Jean Jean’s lyrics are poetic, engaging, and constitute his artistic strength. Sung mainly in French but sometimes also in Creole, his songs address themes such as community living, solidarity, gender equality, children’s rights, and environmental preservation. The artist has released several albums: “Recommence” in 2007, “Pinga” in 2009, “Ya Danger” in 2012, and his album “Ma Direction” in 2015, which was recorded in Senegal at the Prince Arts studios. In 2013, he won the gold medal in the song category at the Francophonie Games in France, where he would become an ambassador in 2015. That same year, he was awarded the TV5 Monde Prize and opened for Youssou N’dour at Bercy. His presence on stage is unforgettable, and his appearances at prestigious international festivals continue to multiply. He notably participated to the Festival International Nuits d’Afrique in 2017. In 2022, he released his 7th album, “AYITI,” which was acclaimed by critics for highlighting his country,the first black independent republic. Jean Jean Roosevelt then decided to settle in Montreal. Upon his arrival, the artist began working on a new project that will tell the story of the wild adventure and energy required for someone newly arrived to adapt to their new country, as well as the great joy of blending in and learning from other cultures.The release of his new album, “Libres Ensemble” (Nuits d’Afrique Records / Believe), produced by the award-winning producer Sony Black, will be available on all digital platforms on March 29, 2024.