Divine, Marco

I was born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. I was a very smart kid who started school early. But we moved around a lot, because of my Dad’s occupation as a military pilot. “Yes… Haiti had planes and military men that could pilot them too”! Well, needless to say that I have been to almost all the Provinces of Haiti since I was a kid, and I have been exposed early on, to all facets of Haitian Life and Culture. Now one day, my Godmother(Jeanne Cathy), who had a very close relationship with my mom( Gislaine), came to the house and suggested to take me to Cap Haitian on vacation. That vacation ended up being four years where, I went from College Pratique du Nord of Edith Robinson, to Frères de L’Instruction Chrétienne “ Catholic School” ( Rue 18).

Music was always present in my house. In fact, my grandfather, Murat Lormon and his cousin, Antalcidas Murat, were the composers for the famous Haitian Orchestra “Jazz des Jeunes”. There was always an old piano in the house. I was also sent to piano lessons…but I liked guitar. One day, after a week-long Camp from Ducroix sponsored by an American Baptist Missionary ( Pastor Kelly), my new focus was learning how to play guitar. Apparently the singing, the serenading, the guitar playing that I experienced at the camp, opened my eyes to a new passion.

Back in Port-au-Prince, my mother purchased me my first acoustic guitar with the promise of never let my grades go down. So I went from Institution Saint Joseph, to Saint Francis of Xavier where I finished primary school. I proceeded to go to College George Marc where I received my Baccalaureate(1st/2nd part), then decided to take the entrance Exam to Medical School in Haiti (of course my parents’ wishes)… but I was not going to be a doctor. That same summer, I met Ansyto, Patrick Casseus, Ronald Michel… while playing with Compas Express as a rhythm guitar player. That was the start of a musical career, which started with Compas Express going on tour all over Haiti, serving as a back-up band for Carole “Maroulé” Demesmin. Then Gemini All Stars de Ti Manno’s first CD, “L’argent”, “Hommage à Bob Marley”, featuring me as a lead singer in No Woman No Cry, One Love, Coming in from the Cold by Bob Marley, and Tenement Yard by Jacob Miller). Such hits turned me into an instant “young superstar” in Haiti, and everywhere I traveled with Gemini all Stars of Ti Manno around the World. When I came to Gemini, I was honored to have been able to do a tribute song to Bob Marley, with the help of Ti-Manno… celebrating Marley’s life and his music. It was a tribute song ( a medley ) put together with my arrangement and the help of the talented musicians of Gemini All Stars, such as: Ansyto Mercier, Patrick Casseus, Claude Cajuste, Mario Germain, Ronald Michel, Wilhem Colas, Bellande “Belot” Moise. Ti Manno was so impressed and inspired by the level of talent in the room, that he decided to write the beginning of the song, that would become one of the hits on Gemini All Stars first album “L’Argent”. It’s only appropriate that some people still consider Me (Ti Marco) as the “Original Rasta”, because of my love to this day, for Reggae Music.

In the US, I’ve played with Exodus, Scorpio La Creme, where I’ve reconnected with my good friend, drummer: Patrick Apollon, who made such a huge difference on “L’Université Du Compas” album- with his ability to not only play the drums and all percussions, but also to compose some of the songs on the CD. I have released a reggae music CD: Freedom Sound titled : Anbeli kay la, I have played with Metrosonic, where I met a very good and enthusiastic pianist named Jocel Almeus. A friendship and a mutual musical admiration was formed right away between us, that lasted to this day. Jocel Almeus sequenced and recorded a lot of the songs on this CD at his studio “Final Mix”. A collaborative effort with Claude Cajuste & Sandra Jean, gave birth to Karess’s second CD titled: “Lanmou nou”. Then Ekip-La (with my brother Kevin Elie).

The musical evolution of my life, takes me to different aventures around the world… including Greece. I gigged with Nestor Azerot in Martinique, with Magnum Band of Dadou Pasquet in Boston, and Ti Manno in Martinique, Guadeloupe, Canada, NYC, Miami, France. I opened for Steel Pulse in Manhattan’s Ritz while playing with 7th Starr as a rhythm guitar player. That was the thrill of my life to meet David Hinds ” Dread”( Lead Singer of Steel Pulse), lots of reggae gigs at Kenny’s Castaways, The Bitter End, The Baggot Inn, Mondo Perso, Opening act at Amateur Night at the Apollo etc…to finally my first solo project: ”L’Université Du Compas”, Marco Divine Feat. Patrick Apollon

One can only say that I had quite a career. Be ready to enjoy a production of ZAM Music / Divine Healing Publishing’s first CD featuring: Marco Divine ( Lead Vocalist / Guitarist / Bassist / Composer), Patrick Apollon (Drums/ Composer / Vocals).

“L’Université Du Compas” also features; Invited guest Artists like:

Robert (Bobby) Raymond (Bass), Bill Quinones( Timbales, Percussions, Trumpet), Jacques Barbot( Congas), Romeo Volcy ( Percussions), Shedly Abraham ( Drums ), Frantz Carries( Trombone ), Romual ( Bass), Pierre Yvon Celestin ( Sax ), Dieudonne Larose ( Voc), Polo ( Voc ), Jocel Almeus ( Keys/ Programming & Recording Engineer@ Final Mix Studio ), Bryan Steele ( Tenor Sax).

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