Bayard, Pepe

Artist/Band/Group Birthday :	18/11/1944(Age 63)
Born In/Current Location :	Haiti/Florida, USA.
Occupation(s) :	Accordionist, Composer, Arranger, and Singer
Genres :	Compas Direct

His artist name, Pepe, originated from the widespread use of the Spanish language in the region. Reared in Ouanaminthe until the age of 5, Pepe, the fourth of five sons, was schooled in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, at St, Louis de Gonzague. Pepe’s musical career began in Haiti in 1957, at the request of his father, Colonel Georges Bayard, who offered his son a piano accordion.
Pepe took private lessons from the best accordion teacher in #Haiti, Maitre Verna, and demonstrated right away, a particular flair and love for the instrument. Pepe developped full mastery of the #accordion, characterized by incredible versatility, impro-visation, and expression. His relatives and friends enjoyed his renditions of their favorite folk songs and encouraged him to play at weddings, private parties, fairs, and clubs.

Pepe Bayard’s Academic and Musical Activities Pepe formed his first musical group at age 15. It was one of the most popular teen bands of the 1960’s in Haiti. He regaled crowds with his romantic love songs and quickly became a teen idol forging an excellent reputation for himself and his musical group composed of Jose Tavernier, Boulot Valcourt, Ralph Champana, Alix Haspil, and Serge Simpson. His greatest innovation was the creation of a mini-jazz group composed of 5 to 7 musicians.

After graduating from Nouveau College Bird in 1963, Pepe moved to New York to pursue his collegiate education. To pay his college tuition, he played in clubs. In 1963, the group Pepe Bayard and his Orchestra was formed. Pepe was the musical director and From the traditional Haitian repertoire, Pepe Bayard interpreted immortal songs, such as #Choucoune, also known as Yellow Bird, by Molcart Monton and Oswald Durand, “Trois bebes” and “Ti cric” by Michel Desgrottes which delighted the nostalgic Haitian Diaspora longing for favorite melodies and lyrics of their homeland.

At age 24 in New York City, Pepe Bayard recorded his first album “On tour with Pepe Bayard and his Orchestra”. On the cover of the album, Pepe wore a shirt he designed himself. Dubbed the “Pepe Bayard shirt”, it instantly became the classic #Haitian version of the #Cuban guayavera, a “casual chic”, day-to-night option wear, perfect for tropical countries and resorts.
After completing his studies, culminating in an #MBA from #Florida #State #university, Pepe returned to Haiti to raise his family and launch his diverse enterprises, including Bayard Advertising, Antillean Insurance, Bright Ideas, and Haiti Lumber. His various business endeavors left Pepe with little time to play professionally, yet he never stopped practicing his musical skills. He built his dream house in Haiti with an entertainment center where he jammed with his friends and fellow musicians used until late in the evening.

In 1998, settled in Miami, Pepe Bayard formed a new musical group and performed in public for the first time in over 26 years. His performance at the Tropigala, in the famed Fountainebleau Hotel in Miami Beach was memorable, and he followed it up with other acclaimed performances in Haiti with the well known band “Strings”, at the Kinam Hotel. Pepe Bayard’s Legacy When Pepe was diagnosed of cancer in May 18, 2005, he had the bug to play accordion again and was determined to leave behind a legacy for his family and fans. With a group of young and gifted Haitian-American musicians, he formed the “Pepe Bayard Caribbean Pirates Band” .Very much attached to his homeland Haiti, Pepe worked relentlessly for the promotion of Haitian Arts and Music in Miami with the Miami-Dade Board of Cultural Affairs. Driven by his passion for philanthropy and belief that “Music is a powerful educational tool that awakens the mind, stimulates learning, and often brings about change,” Pepe devoted himself wholeheartedly to the composition of that CD. In every song, he sends a message of hope for the recovery of Haiti and advocates Haiti’s economic rebirth through the united work of Haitians living in Haiti and abroad.

On Easter Sunday, March 23rd 2008, Pepe Bayard passed away, leaving behind his wife Shirley Rose, son Marc, daughter Pascale, and grandchildren, Dimitri, Arielle, and Sean. Pepe Bayard’s accordion and keyboard are displayed at his residence in Sunny Isles Beach, Florida, along with numerous honors and awards bestowed upon him. Pepe Bayard’s first CD album remains as exciting today as it was when first released. His songs are timeless and still appeal to a wide audience; they are often played in the Hit Parade Retro in #Haiti. His last CD is a legacy of joy to all future generations that will rediscover the creative talent of an #expert accordion player, composer, arranger, and singer.

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