ULRICK PIERRE LOUIS SEPTEMBER 22, 1928 - SEPTEMBER 2, 2009
Maestro Ulrick Pierre Louis could be described not only as one of the greatest Haitian band leaders, but also as the keeper of the Septentrional legacy. In effect he has devoted all his life to making sure that the band kept a good profile, a positive image, discipline, and conduct that should be an example and a model to generations of musicians to come.
Ulrick started his professional career at the age of 18 years old playing from the “Quatour Septentrional” to “Trio Symphonia” that would later become known as “l’Orchestre Septentrional” du Cap Haitien. In the 1960s he led the band to one of the most popular Haitian bands, competing hard with the top bands of Port-au-Prince, like Compas Direct of Nemours Jean Baptiste, Cadence Rampas de Webert Sicot as well as Jazz des Jeunes under the direction of René St Aude. In the 1970s all those top saxophonists and band leaders had succumbed to the power of the Mini Jazz revolution as the idea of the big band was fading away, Ulrick Pierre Louis was the only one of the top maestros who was able to keep his band above water and kept on working hard by making some super-hit songs that kept the band busy in Haiti and overseas. The songs Mariana and Caridad are among the super hits composed by Ulrick Pierre Louis for the band Septentrional.
Ulrick Pierre Louis was not only an entertainer but an innovator and a great entrepreneur because he built a movie theater, a restaurant and a night club during his life time. Ulrick Pierre Louis who was born on September 22, 1928 in Cap Haitien died at the hospital St François de Sales in Port-Au-Prince on September 2nd, 2009 at the age of 80 years old.
