Nemours Jean-Baptiste

Nemours Jean-Baptiste, born on February 2, 1918, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, was a saxophonist and band leader. He is credited with inventing Kompa, also known as Kompa direct, a style of Haitian music. In the mid-1950s, Jean-Baptiste founded Ensemble Aux Callebasses, which popularized his invention. His early career included collaborations with fellow Haitian artist Webert Sicot in Conjunto International. Notable releases include the albums Ensemble aux Callebasses (1958), A Visit To Haiti (1958), and The Sensation of the Day (1961), as well as the single "Ti Carole," a composition dedicated to a fan that remained on the Top Ten list for over a year. In the early 1970s, Jean-Baptiste and Ensemble Aux Callebasses performed at several New York nightclubs. He died on May 18, 1985.

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