Biography

Karlex: Ambassador of Afro Groove


The roots of black music stretches across the ocean from Africa and America to the Caribbean islands and Europe. This journey of a people and their culture - a journey of joy and struggle - is mirrored in the personal story of Karlex. Singer and songwriter Karlex blends the scratch 'n' riff guitar sounds of classic funk and soul with the fat-bottom bass of dub and roots reggae to create a frothy musical blend called Afro Groove.


Born in Haiti, Karlex' childhood on the island was simple and carefree. Despite the tumult of life under a dictatorship, he concentrated on having fun; which meant being immersed in music. Two of his uncles were musicians in bands. His mother was the musical director of the local church choir, which is no doubt where he got his soulful singing style. After getting his first guitar as a child, he began writing songs at a rapid clip. "Very often I say, I did not write my songs but they found me," Karlex explains in typical humble fashion.


Summer visits to New York, where he and his friends made tapes of radio station WBLS, lead to a fascination with America and its musical diversity. He moved to the international city in his late teens and soon was playing in pop, rock and world music bands.


Karlex soon returned to Haiti to help with the family business. However, music remained his passion and heart; his musical vision and inspiration was sparked, in large part, by his homeland. "The drums in the night filled me with a longing to get back to the true essence of liberty and freedom that my ancestors fought for," he exclaimed. "And nothing translated that better for me than a certain sound reminiscent of the 60's and 70's fused with actual urban music and Haitian soul."


Karlex' songs radiate emotion and thoughtfulness with themes of love, love lost, loneliness and the quest for freedom and liberty. In the often vapid, shallow world of today's music, Karlex is an inspiration. Currently residing in France, he released his debut album, "Ghetto Fabulous," in 2006. The album is already garnering critical praise in France, Holland and the Benelux countries; all of which is where he frequently performs live to packed venues. The album reached and owned the number one spot on Radio Africa 1 and the video for the single "Farewell Angel" is getting regular rotation on Europe 2 TV. He will soon performing the first-ever concerts - 14 shows in 7 days - on the French TGV train system. Karlex' musical and personal journey is poised to break new ground.