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1955-07-26

Compas direct is born one night on the Place Sainte-Anne

Haitian

On the night of 26 July 1955, on the Place Sainte-Anne in Port-au-Prince, in front of Chez Maggy, a band called the Conjunto International played for the first time. Nemours Jean-Baptiste led it, with Webert Sicot, Julien Paul, Monfort Jean-Baptiste and the Duroseau brothers. The idea was simple: two chords, and a tempo slowed from the merengue so couples could dance longer without tiring. The group became the Ensemble Aux Callebasses and then the Ensemble Nemours Jean-Baptiste. Haiti has been dancing to it for seventy years.

Source Researched: Le Nouvelliste