Guitarists · 1915–1993

Frantz Casseus

Haitian-American guitarist and composer

Born: 14 December 1915
Port-au-Prince
Died: 3 June 1993
Manhattan
Country: Haiti

Biography

Frantz Casseus was a jazz musician who played guitar. Frantz Casseus was born on 14 December 1915 in Port-au-Prince and died on 3 June 1993 in Manhattan. The music is usually filed under jazz and contemporary classical music.

Frantz Casseus (14 December 1915 – 3 June 1993) was a Haitian-American guitarist and composer. Born and raised in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, he spent most of his adult life in the United States where he immigrated in 1946 hoping to meet pianist Fats Waller. Though influenced by jazz and European classical music, Casseus's compositions maintained a focus on Haitian folk forms, which he incorporated into his recordings and his published compositions. Casseus was a frequent collaborator with Harry Belafonte who recorded his song "Merci Bon Dieu". Casseus played on Belafonte's breakthrough album Calypso. Between 1953 and 1969, Casseus recorded three albums for Smithsonian Folkways. Casseus wrote music until the last years of his life, but from the 1970s tendonitis in his left hand curtailed his performance and recording career. Casseus was an early guitar teacher to the American musician Marc Ribot (b.

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