If you are not familiar with Melanie J-B. Charles, give it just a little while. You will be.
Soon enough, she will stand on stage with her big smile, Grammy Award in hand, thanking you and you and you for being such loyal fans.
This celebrated songstress was born in Brooklyn, New York. Her parents are from Pilate, Haiti. Melanie refers to herself as Haitian-American, but her Kreyòl is just fine–thank you very much!
“I grew up in a family home with my grandmother,“ Melanie explains. “Ou paka pale anglè avèk granmè w. Fò ou pale Kreyòl ou byen Fransè.” You cannot speak English with your Haitian grandmother. You have to speak Creole or French.
Through her family, Melanie developed a deep understanding of her Haitian heritage and culture. Her passion is now evident in her repertoire. “Music is my life,” she says. “Music is what I do.”
When I spoke to Melanie, she had just finished a performance. She sounded a little out of breath, but when she spoke, the words were all gratitude for the opportunity to do what she loves.
Melanie is unabashed about her deep faith in God. She credits her grandmother for inspiring her to use her voice as a way to worship. “Use your voice and your talent to show people how wonderful God is,” her grandmother would tell her.
Melanie’s debut album, melanie charles & The Journey, is a beautiful project. The music, all original, is receiving a lot of attention. You will enjoy Melanie’s soulful voice!
If you have plans to be in Haiti next month, be sure to catch Melanie’s First of Firsts performance. “Going to Haiti means more to me than I can put in words,” she says. She is anxious about the trip, which will be the first time she sees with her own eyes her family’s native land.
On the subject of Haiti’s reconstruction, Melanie says: “The richness of our culture has allowed us to experience freedom in ways others only dream about. Now is the time for our artists to take the lead and create even more change. When people are stimulated artistically, they tend to be more daring. That is what we need.
“Rebuilding is a slow process,” Melanie adds. “There’s still a lot of devastation in Haiti, but I have hope that through the arts and our sense of community, Haiti will rise again.”
Read the Melanie J-B Charles InnerView in Haitian Creole Li Entèvyou sa a an Kreyòl
Forthcoming Cooking With Katia how-to video features Kitchen Super(S)hero, Genevieve Dumorne. She will teach us how to make “diri kole a pwa,” Haitian Rice and Beans. Don’t miss it! Bring your own plate;-)
