User:Jhonny Celicourt

WANITO

Anyone’s life can change in the blink of an eye. Louis Pascal Juanito Beaubrun, better known by his stage name Wanito, is the perfect example. In just a couple of months, this gifted artist surprisingly went from being an underground young singer to mainstream recognition in Haitian music. Wanito’s unique tone of voice combines elements of Soul, Reggae, Haitian Roots and Hip-hop. His striking lyrics and captivating melodies grab you by the guts and will not let you go.

The Wanito phenomenon transcends social classes. In schools, living rooms, tap-tap (Haiti public transportation), his popular choruses are literally on everyone’s lips. On stage, his music easily goes from World Beat, Hip-hop to Dance-hall or Konpa (Haiti most popular music) with such ease that it leaves you almost speechless. No one, even the most conservative music lovers, can remain unresponsive to the power of Wanito’s music.

Born April 21, 1988 in Jérémie, also known as “The City Of Poets,” located at approximately 186 miles, southwest of Port- Au-Prince, Wanito grew up with his mother and loved to music from an early age. Wanito later relocated to Port-au-Prince to pursue his secondary level education at Lycée National de Pétion-ville. Despite being a newcomer in the capital and his obvious shyness, he impressed his friends and had them clamoring for more of his improvised acoustic songs. Family members and friends eventually urged him to enter several singing contests, which included ‘’Digicel Stars,’’ run by a cell phone company, and Konkou Chante Nwel (Christmas Song Contest) produced by a Haitian private TV station.

Although he didn’t reach the finale of these competitions, Wanito did not give up. He believed in his fate and remained committed to realizing his dream. In April 2011, the D-day arrived. He eventually came out the big winner of ‘’Haiti Chante’’ (Haiti Sings), a song competition held by PeaceTones, a Boston-based NGO involved in educating and supporting young artists from post-conflict and post-disaster communities around the world. This prize opened a window of opportunity for Wanito.

As part of his reward, PeaceTones brought Wanito to the US to record his very first solo album with a group of talented Boston-based musicians, and to tour Boston and New York. In December 2011, his debut album with PeaceTones, “Biyografi Mwen” (My Biography), hit the stores in Haiti and was released online on iTunes and Amazon.

The album met immediate success. “Gad On Rèv” and “Blokis” topped a large number of FM charts in Haiti just a few days after its release. The album-release party on December 1st, 2011 completely sold out. Hundreds of euphoric fans gathered inside the club to purchase their copy of ‘’Biyografi Mwen’’ and sing along with Wanito. Within 5 days, more than 2500 CDs were sold, an unprecedented accomplishment in the Haitian music industry where not everyone can afford to buy original CDs.

A few days later, the Haitian Parliament awarded Wanito with the title of “Star Of The Year” during an official event witnessed by journalists, lawmakers, government officials and a collection of top Haitian artists. This was just the beginning of Wanito’s growing success. He proceeded to play shows across the country of Haiti. At the beginning of this year, Wanito was included on a list of the “Top 12 Personalities Of The Year 2011,” published by “Le Nouvelliste”, the oldest Haitian daily newspaper, alongside Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, who was acknowledged for her deep commitment to Haiti after the devastating earthquake of January 12, 2010.

Subsequently, Wanito has made the headlines of most of the widely read newspapers, blogs and on-line magazines in Haiti. He has performed in the prestigious SOBs in Manhattan, NY, followed by a sold-out concert at Hollywood Live in Florida, in front of hundreds of cheering fans.

Wanito has since begun a regular performance schedule in New York and Florida. With a busy schedule to perform almost 7 days a week, it is clear that Haiti and its Diaspora have fallen under the spell of this 24-year-old young man, who remains humble and wise despite this unexpected huge success that celebrates his talent of singer, composer and songwriter, someone his country can be proud of.