Nemours Jean-Baptiste

haiti, kompa, compas direct, nemours, saxophone

Born Feb 02, 1918

Port-au-Prince, Haiti

Passed Away May 18, 1985 Port-au-Prince, Haiti

Lifespan 67 years old

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"Compas Direct is the joyful pulse of the Haitian heart; it belongs to every dancing soul."

Archival Overview

Master saxophonist and musical innovator who created Compas Direct (Kompa), the national music and dance of Haiti.

Biographical Record

Nemours Jean-Baptiste was a visionary saxophonist, guitarist, and bandleader who invented Compas Direct (Kompa), the most popular and enduring musical dance genre in modern Haitian history.

In July 1955, at Place Sainte-Anne in Port-au-Prince, Nemours debuted the new rhythm, characterized by a smooth, danceable 2/4 beat anchored by the hi-hat cymbal (tanbou) and infectious guitar arpeggios.

His legendary musical rivalry with Webert Sicot's Cadence Rampa fueled a golden era of Caribbean popular music, with July 26 celebrated across the diaspora as World Kompa Day.

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Rest in Peace Forever remembered and cherished Your legacy lives on in all of us With deep gratitude for your life and light

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Final Resting Place

Perpetual Memorial

Port-au-Prince Cemetery
Port-au-Prince, Haiti

                         GPS: 18.5392, -72.3364                    

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