Genres Haitian roots Genre Rasin | Years active 2014–present | |
Associated acts Samuel Francis
Sarah Exantus
France Jean-Baptiste Past members Emmanuely “Sodoki” Kalimili
Dormin Ordonez
Lindbergh Wade
Parrish Hicks Sr,
Ernst “Tines” Albert
Dominique Louis Origin Chicago, Illinois, United States Members Josue Pierre, Margaret Rainey, Dominique Louis | ||
Kreyòl Roots is a Haitian-American Haitian roots band located in Chicago, Illinois. They are best known for their unique blend of Caribbean Roots, Zouk, African, and traditional Haitian rhythms.
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History
The band was founded by Gerald “Toto” Alfred. Toto has been playing guitar since his adolescence and spent twenty years as the lead guitarist for the Haitian roots band Boukman Eksperyans. Once he relocated to Chicago from Haiti, Gerald “Toto” Alfred began searching for musicians to form Kreyòl Roots.
Composed of musicians hailing from mostly Haiti, Kreyòl Roots frequently collaborates with musicians from Ghana, Tanzania, Belize, and The United States of America. Kreyòl Roots features Gerald “Toto” Alfred on lead guitar and lead vocals, (TBA) on bass, Krissy on lead and harmony vocals and dance, Margaret Rainey on backup vocals and dance, Juneau “Gino” J. Francois on percussion and backup vocals, Josue Pierre on keyboard, and Michael "Paapa Michael" Annang on drums and percussion. Guest artists have included Samuel Francis, Sarah Exantus, Emmanuely “Sodoki” Kalimili, and France Jean-Baptiste.
The band has played events such as Chicago’s The Old Town School of Folk Music, Chicago Vegan Mania 2014, Loyola University's Summer on the Plaza, Music on the Mayne Stage, Kick Off to Summer at The Dock at Montrose Beach, Caribbean Heritage Month, Uptown Saturday Nights, and Glenwood Ave Arts Festival. Being able to perform as a small acoustic group as well, the band has performed at Chicago's Swedish, German, and Haitian museums as a two-piece ensemble.
Songs
Pye Aleman2014
Sim Te La2014
Mwen Ak Ti Jean2014