Originally from Artibonite, particularly Gros-Morne, Prospère was born on January 14, 1975. A licensed accountant, he has worked in the banking sector for several years. He is a husband and father to a three-year-old daughter. He is a son abandoned by his father with whom he does not have a good relationship. He has lived in Port-au-Prince since 1995, where the turning point in his professional life and his musical career would change.
After studying up to the rhéto class with the brothers of the Collège Jean XXIII in Gros-Morne, it is in the Haitian capital that Prospère comes to continue his apprenticeship, for a quest for social mobility and prosperity first at the Lycée Alexandre Pétion, then at the Faculty of Agronomy which coincides with its integration into the Alabanza group. The young student and sax enthusiast must choose: music wins. However, the group offers him an attractive alternative in the form of covering study costs up to the third year at a private university where he studies accounting. For around ten years, Prospère played alongside Carl Joseph, Yves Virgile and others, and contributed to the success of this eminent group from which he “partially” separated in 2003.
The soul of a musician…
Do you know a teenager who hangs out behind the marching band of a funeral procession just to listen to the music? Who clandestinely attends the entire practice hours of his music teacher, the trumpeter and maestro Wilner Jean? It is Prosperous Marcellus. He must wait until the seventh fundamental year to meet the object of his passion at Jean XXIII college. It’s only natural that little Prospère shines in music class, to the point of benefiting, he and another friend, from private lessons. In fact, it was the trumpet that he really learned to play, even if he first chose the saxophone when he joined the great La Sainte Famille de Gros-Morne brass band and then became its maestro. His time in different groups in his native region, notably the Orchester Frères Unis de Gros-Morne and CAMAP, contributed to the refinement of his talent. Ironically, Prospère returns to his sax, his first choice, sticks to it definitively and no longer touches the trumpet.
The Alabanza experience…
Prospère is now in Port-au-Prince, in philosophy class. No question of giving up music. From the orchestra Les Triomphateurs to La Voix de Dieu (Lochard Rémy) as bassist, via Phare des Jeunes as guitarist, the artist begins to exploit his very advanced musical sense. When Alabanza needed a saxophonist to make up for the absence of Sadrack Désormeau, Prospère auditioned in October 1996 with “Glory, glory Alleluia”. Carly Joseph, maestro of the group, replied in these words which he still remembers unerringly: “M santi Lespri Bondye di m chwazi w. » The group gave him his first saxophone and that was the start of a great career, and great performances at the cost of four hours of practice a day! Whether in the capital or in provincial towns, Prospère multiplies the performances, live and in the studio, in a dynamic of continuous learning, not without the help of Carly and Yves Virgile. At the same time, he offers his services to other groups and artists such as Alleluia, SES, New Life, Julien Janvier. In June 2003, the Alabanza group left for the USA, during the events that shook Haiti during this period. Prospère is one of those who returned to live in the country, and resumes his position as cashier manager at the bank. However, the collaboration with the group does not stop there. Since then, Prospère has been contacted by Alabanza, which is definitely playing in Uncle Sam’s country, for specific services. As recently as February 2015, he was with the legendary team during a performance in Jacksonville.
Alone…
Prospère never thought about going solo, even though his fans frequently asked him to, until Ben Sax Estimable, another great Christian saxophonist, tipped him off. After a Ben Sax concert in 2012 at Excelsior College in Delmas 75, Prospère followed suit and organized his first free concert in February 2013, inviting the man who inspired him. First attempt, masterstroke, the saxophonist offered a breathtaking concert at the Tabernacle Baptist Church which could not contain the large crowd. Then to the Evangelical Baptist Church of Pétion-Ville, then at the MEBSH in Carrefour, always in front of a sea of humans. In November 2014 and March 2015, respectively at Café Trio and MEBSH, Prospère experimented with a paid concert and the effect went beyond his expectations.
What music does he play?
At the beginning, strategically, Prospère offers a list of very well-known songs that he interpreter in a very beautiful way. Gradually, he slips his own compositions into his performances. His instrumental music transmits emotions. Each note is subject to the discretion of the author who appropriates it and defines it according to his needs and his state of mind. “Grey’song”, written for his daughter, “Rod’song” and “Maria”, written for his wife Maria, delight in a spiritual dimension. But there is also “Medley praise” and “Un Christian”. Prosperous finds the melodies and harmonies, the audience finds the words.
Prospère’s style was initially influenced by Kenny G. But today, he admires the virtuosity of Kirk Whalum, an American saxophonist, and Melvin Butler, a saxophonist of Haitian origin.
His projects…
Prospère is, without a shadow of a doubt, very popular with the public evangelical Haitian. His notes express, without words, messages of evangelization or comfort that stimulate tears of joy. Only two years into his solo career, he has already performed at more than five concerts, not counting invitations, given that he is very accessible. In order to satisfy his fans, he sets himself the challenge of organizing two concerts per year. More than eight months in advance, all plans for the artist’s next concert next November are already in place. He is putting together his first album which should be released this year, he promises. Prospere and his band composed of Yves Virgile, Emmanuel Piervil, Stéphane Bien-Aimé, Lionel Pétion, Rodlin Guérilus, Amazan and Claudy rehearse regularly. Result: an outstanding overall game. Prosperous Marcellus is certainly a Christian saxophonist, but he is very open to different performances in other social activities, as long as they do not affect his faith.
Author: Joel Fanfan
