BélO

Born in 1979, in Croix-des-Bouquet, Haïti, just like musician Wyclef Jean, Jean Bélony Murat, known by most as BélO, is a young talented singer and songwriter who proposes a music, that is mostly a mix of reggae, voodoo and soul beats, and even flirts with the jazz genre.

Since childhood BélO has shown an undeniable interest and talent for music. Always involved in school cultural events he made his stage debut at age eleven: singing songs from the repertoire of some of his favorite singers (Buju Banton, Eddy François, Alan Cavé) he participated in a School Show. He has been dreaming of a musical career ever since. To further his chance of making it in the musical arena he started taking guitar lessons. Continuously encouraged by his family and mostly by his brother Charlot (now also his manager), he welcomed every chance to perform, that can explain now his “so-at-ease” and confident attitude in front of crowds.

In 1998, his vocal prowess got him noticed at Sun Auto’s Traditional Christmas Fair as he was performing with the band Sokute. As a result, he was approached by producer Jean Marc Appolon and two major players of the Haitian music arena, Fabrice Rouzier and Kéké Bélizaire of “Haiti Troubadours”.

With these musicians and the members of Sokute, he came in 2nd place at the CODECSO’s « Chante Nwèl » Christmas Song Contest in December 2001.

In 2005, he recorded his first album : Lakou trankil. The ten songs, except one, are written, composed and arranged by Bélo. They talk of love (god’s, mother’s, sentimental), unity, respect for one another and call upon listeners to reflect on many social issues. Titles like “Match”, “Dioré”, “Lov pou Lov”’ and “Jasmine” are very solicited in the media stations and are regulars at the radio stations billboards.

Since then, with his talented musicians, Bélo performed in the more important Haitian scenes : « Musique en Folie », Institut Français and Alliances françaises of Haiti, River Festival of Cavaillon, International film Festival of Jacmel, etc. Appreciated for his talent and his personality, BélO become the “darling” of the general public.

In november 2006, he won the Radio RFI contest “Découvertes 2006” after the Haitian Beethova Obas (1988) or the Cost Ivory singer Tiken Jah Fakoly (2000).

Since that, Bélo began his international career with several tours (Europ, West Africa and Canada) and pretigious festivals as "Musiques Métisses" of Angouleme (France), "Francofolies" of Montreal (Canada)