| Richard Auguste Morse |
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| CATEGORIES ABOUT RICHARD AUGUSTE MORSE | |
| 1957 births | |
| haitian americans | |
| haitian musicians | |
| living people | |
| vodun | |
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EARLY LIFE Richard Auguste Morse was born in ''. Nov. 8, 2005. MOVE TO HAITI In 1985, Morse was dating a woman whose father strongly disapproved of his daughter dating a musician. Morse also had a falling out with his fellow band members in The Groceries over musical differences, and was struggling with the direction his life should take. A conversation with a French record producer persuaded Morse to start over and move to Port-au-Prince to better explore Haitian and Caribbean music. In 1987, he signed a 15 year lease to manage the Hotel Oloffson, then in near ruins and the inspiration for the fictional Hotel Trianon in Graham Greene 's famous 1966 novel '' The Comedians ''.Greene, Graham (1966). ''The Comedians''. New York, New York: Penguin Classics; Reissue edition (Nov. 5, 1991). ISBN 0-14-018494-5. In restoring the hotel business, Morse hired a local folkloric dance troupe and slowly converted it into a band. Morse fell in love with one of the performers, Lunise, whom he married. RAM was formally created in 1990. Morse would become the songwriter and lead male vocalist, Lunise became the lead female vocalist, and the name of band, RAM, comes from Richard's initials. RAM was a ''rasin'' band. One of the most important musical movements that swept Haiti in the years following the exile of dictator Jean-Claude Duvalier , ''mizik rasin'' combines elements of traditional ''vodou'' ceremonical and folkloric music with Rock And Roll . The ancient drum rhythms of former African slaves combined with the beat of American rock and roll was a perfect combination for the musical background of Morse. The Hotel Oloffson was also a perfect venue for rehearsals and performances. When not on tour elsewhere in the country, RAM began playing a regular performance every Thursday night at the hotel. POLITICAL PROTEST THROUGH MUSIC Jean-Bertrand Aristide, the first elected president of Haiti after the exile of dictator Jean-Claude Duvalier, was overthrown in a Coup D'etat in 1991. RAM and other ''rasin'' bands were strongly identified with Aristide and his political party, Lavalas . When other performers, such as Boukman Eksperyans and Manno Charlemagne , left the country in exile, Morse and his band chose to stay in Port-au-Prince. The music that Morse wrote and RAM performed was often laced with political messages critical of the military ''junta'' led by Raoul Cédras. Richard, Lunise, and other members of the band were threatened or harassed. In 1992, Morse adapted a traditional ''vodou'' folk song, "Fèy" , to a ''rasin'' rhythm and instrumentation. Despite no overt references to the political situation, it was widely played on the radio and immediately taken up throughout the country as an unofficial anthem of support for Aristide. By the summer of 1992, playing or singing the song was Banned under military authority, and Morse was subjected to death threats from the regime. In one particular instance, Morse was summoned before Evans François, the brother of Colonel Michel François , who told Morse that any number of Assassins would be willing to kill him for as little as fifty cents in payment.Shacochis, Bob (1999). ''The Immaculate Invasion''. New York, New York: Penguin Publishing. ISBN 0-14-024895-1. p. 10. In September, 1994, '', November, 2004. Retrieved Apr. 25, 2006. VODOU Since moving the Haiti in 1985, Morse has been involved in the ''vodou'' community. The music he writes and performs is inspired by traditional ''vodou'' folk music, and incorporates the '''', London, July 27, 2004. Retrieved Apr. 25, 2006. REFERENCES ;Cited References ;General References
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