Coupé Cloué

**Jean Gesner Henry** (10 May 1925 – 29 January 1998), known professionally as **Coupé Cloué**, was a Haitian footballer, singer, guitarist, and bandleader. He was known for defining a style of Haitian compas music he called kompa mamba, and for the sometimes bawdy innuendo used in his songs. During his career, he was one of Haiti's most prominent musicians, and found much success in West Africa as well.

As a young man, he received a classical music education and worked as a cabinetmaker before becoming a professional football player. It was from football, playing defense for the Port-au-Prince club Aigles Noirs, that he acquired his nickname, "Coupé Cloué" or "cut and nailed".

He began performing on guitar in 1951, and in 1957 he formed the band Trio Crystal, which he later renamed Trio Select, along with another guitar player and a maraca player. Their first album, one of the dozens Henry released during his career, was released in the late 1960s. In the early 1970s the group expanded from its original three, and renamed itself Ensemble Select. That decade also saw an increase in his use of racy spoken preaching and storytelling in addition to singing during songs; this became one of his trademarks.

In 1978 Coupé Cloué toured extensively in Africa, greatly increasing his international prominence. His popularity in West Africa was especially boosted by similarities between the rhythms and sounds of Henry's music an African soukous music. It was there that Henry earned the nickname, Roi Coupé (or "King Coupé"). During the 1980s and early 1990s, Henry continued to perform and record prolifically.

Henry died of diabetes in January 1998, having only retired from performing the previous month. He was mourned in Port-au-Prince by a day-long outdoor funeral celebration, attended by thousands of people, including the interim Minister of Culture.

## Links to Kershaw

In a Guardian newspaper article, published on 30th March 2001, Kershaw speaks a bit about his favourite Haitian bandleader, Coupé Cloué, a singer who he discovered whilst travelling to Haiti:

> *"It's just so elegant. He used to be a footballer and his name (French for Cut and Nail) is something to do with a football defence."* [1]
>
>

Kershaw also introduced Coupé Cloué to John Peel, who played tracks from the singer in the early 90's.

## Shows Played

   1991
* 21 April 1991: Fanm Kolokint
* 22 December 1991: Mon Coupe/Ti Bom (CD - L´Essentiel) Edenways

1992
* 12 January 1992: Klerin Douse (LP - Full Tank) AP
* 16 February 1992: Klerin Douse (LP - Full Tank) AP
* 05 September 1992: Rose Jadin La (CD - 25e Anniversaire) Chancy
* 19 September 1992: Deux Pigeons (CD - 25e Anniversaire) Chancy
* 24 October 1992: Claudie (CD - Maximum Compas From Haiti) Earthworks
* 31 October 1992: Myan Myan (CD - Maximum Compas From Haiti) Earthworks
* 14 November 1992: Marie Jocelyne (CD - Maximum Compas From Haiti) Earthworks
* 28 November 1992: Leogane (CD - Maximum Compas From Haiti) Earthworks

1993
* 20 November 1993: Gaçon Bôzô (CD - Racine) R Francis

1994
* 26 March 1994: Coumbite No. 3
* 07 May 1994: Sa Ki Pou Ou (CD - Sa Ki Pou Ou) Melodie Makers

1995
* 17 December 1995: Bri Couri (CD - Racine) R Francis

1999
* 10 June 1999: Gacon Bozo (CD - Racine) R Francis Entertainment

2021
* Andy Kershaw Podcast Episode 7: Gaçon Bôzô (album - Racine) R Francis

## External Links

* Wikipedia
* Discogs