Michel Martelly

Michel Martelly was a famous singer.

He lived in Haiti. He also made music in the United States.

He played the keyboard. He made a new kind of dance music. This music used electronic tools.

Later, he became a leader for Haiti. He was the president. He held this job for a few years.

Some things he did were not good. Other lands said he helped bad groups. He had to leave his job.

He is still known for his music. Do you like to dance?

Michel Martelly is a famous singer from Haiti.

He is also known as Sweet Micky. He was a star in the music world. He played the keyboard for many years. He made a new style of dance music. This music is called kompa. He used electronic tools to make a big sound. He made many albums between 1988 and 2008.

Martelly later became a leader. He was the 47th president of Haiti. He won the election in 2011. He promised to fix things after a big earthquake. He served as president until 2016.

Some things happened that were not good. The United States said he helped bad gangs. They also said he moved drugs into the country. Canada said he helped people break the law. A scientist said his time in power was bad for the country. Martelly has lived in both Haiti and the United States. He often stays in Florida.

Michel Martelly is a man who lived two very different lives. He was a famous musician in Haiti and later became its 47th president.

For many years, people knew him by his stage name, Sweet Micky. He was a very popular singer and a keyboard player. He helped change the sound of Haitian music. He used electronic tools like synthesizers to make a new style of dance music. This style is called a "new generation" of kompa. This music is usually sung in the Haitian Creole language.

Martelly's musical journey began in the late 1980s. He played in many local venues in places like Pétion-Ville and Kenscoff.

In 1988, he recorded his first hit single called "Ou La La." Between 1988 and 2008, he recorded fourteen studio albums. He also made many live CDs for his fans. One of his most famous songs is called "Pa Manyen." This song was even used by singers in other countries. His music was known for being very energetic and fun to dance to.

His path to politics was not always easy or simple. In the early 1990s, Martelly was linked to the Haitian military and police. This was a difficult time in Haiti's history. In 1995, his name appeared on a list of people who supported a coup. Because of this, he had to stay away from Haiti for almost a year. While he was away, he released a song called "Prezidan." This song was a happy tune about a president who played kompa music. He eventually returned to Haiti and lived there again in 2007.

In 2010, a very large and scary earthquake hit Haiti. This event changed everything for the country. After the earthquake, Martelly decided to run for president. He used his fame as a musician to reach many people. He held big musical rallies called koudjay to show his ideas.

He ran with a group called the Repons Peyizan party. In the 2010–11 election, he won a run-off against Mirlande Manigat. He officially became the president of Haiti on May 14, 2011.

Martelly served as president until he resigned in February 2016. His time in office was marked by many serious problems. The Canadian government accused him of helping criminal gangs in 2022. Later, in August 2024, the United States placed sanctions on him. They said he was involved in moving drugs like cocaine into the country. A scientist named Frédéric Thomas said his leadership caused the Haitian state to decay. Today, Martelly often lives in Florida in the United States. He remains a very well-known figure in Haitian history.

Michel Joseph Martelly is a prominent figure in Haitian history. He served as the 47th president of Haiti from 2011 until 2016. Before entering politics, he was a famous musician known as "Sweet Micky." He is recognized for his massive influence on Haitian popular culture.

His life has been defined by two distinct roles: a celebrated performer and a controversial political leader. He has moved frequently between the United States and Haiti for both business and musical purposes.

As a musician, Martelly was a pioneer of a specific musical style. He was a keyboardist and singer who specialized in kompa. Kompa is a style of Haitian dance music. It is usually sung in the Haitian Creole language. Martelly helped create a "nouvelle génération," or "new generation," of kompa. This style used smaller bands that relied heavily on electronic instruments. He used synthesizers to create a fuller, modern sound. Between 1988 and 2008, he recorded fourteen studio albums and several live CDs.

Martelly's musical career included several major successes and international connections. His first hit single was "Ou La La," released in 1988. Another very famous song is "Pa Manyen," which he released in 1997. This song was an adaptation of a piece by composer Ramiro Mendes. The track became so popular that it appeared on international compilation albums. In 1997, he even collaborated with American hip hop artist Wyclef Jean. His ability to blend different genres helped him maintain high popularity for decades.

His transition into politics was linked to his connections with the Haitian military. In the early 1990s, Martelly was associated with neo-Duvalierist military and police figures. He supported the 1991 coup d'état that removed President Jean-Bertrand Aristide from power. This association led to significant personal danger for Martelly. In 1995, his name appeared on a "hit list" of people who supported the coup. He stayed away from Haiti for almost a year to remain safe. During this time, he released a song called "Prezidan" to express his views.

In 2010, following a catastrophic earthquake in Haiti, Martelly entered the presidential race. He ran as a candidate for the Repons Peyizan, or Farmers' Response Party. He used his celebrity status to hold musical rallies called koudjay. These rallies helped him draw large crowds and media attention. The 2010–11 election was a complex process involving a run-off. After the Organization of American States addressed issues regarding alleged fraud, Martelly faced candidate Mirlande Manigat in the second round. He won the election with more than 60% of the vote.

Martelly assumed the presidency on May 14, 2011. His term began during a period of massive reconstruction after the earthquake. One of his main campaign promises was to reinstate the Haitian military. This military had been abolished in the 1990s under the leadership of Jean-Bertrand Aristide. Martelly served in this role until he resigned in February 2016. His presidency is viewed by some scholars as a period of significant change for the nation. Political scientist Frédéric Thomas described his rise as a step in the decay of the Haitian state.

Since leaving office, Martelly has faced serious legal and international consequences. In 2022, the Canadian government sanctioned him for involvement in human rights violations. They also accused him of supporting criminal gangs. In August 2024, the United States government imposed its own sanctions on him. The U.S. stated that Martelly was involved in trafficking cocaine into the United States. He was also accused of sponsoring several gangs based in Haiti. Today, Martelly often resides in Florida, though his impact on Haiti remains a major subject of study.