With the death of Jean-Paul Albin, better known as Paulo Albin, a huge part of Martinican music has gone.
One of the singers in the famous La Perfecta orchestra passed away at La Meynard university hospital in Fort-de-France on Tuesday November 19 in the morning, at the age of 78. Paulo Albin joined La Perfecta in the 1970s, it’s was the time of orchestras and balls, Afros and bell-bottomed trousers. With his powerful and melodious voice, the artist who was also a teacher had performed (and sometimes composed) many hit songs such as “La Divinité” (1979), “Ayin”, “Reste avec moi”, “Baille Chabon“, “Demain ké rivé”, “Lucie”, L’Amitié à sens unique”, “Vagabond”, “Roro Deg Deg” which have made (and continue to make) generations of Martinicans, Guadeloupeans and Guianese dance.
It is no exaggeration to say that La Perfecta was Paulo Albin and that Paulo Albin was La Perfecta, the person concerned claimed ; the singer was never able to separate definitively from this legendary orchestra founded in 1970 in the town of Trinité in Martinique. La Perfecta (Martinique) – named after the famous Latin music orchestra of American pianist of Puerto Rican origin Eddie Palmieri – played a mix of Latin, Haitian (notably konpa) and local rhythms (biguine, mazurka etc. ). It was the first band in the French West Indies to use a harmonic chorus with three male singers, which gave it a singular musical color.
Although Paulo Albin had tried to have a solo career in 1981 and set up his own band, Paulo Albin All Stars, in 2015, however he always came back to sing with La Perfecta, especially at major balls and concerts in Martinique, Guadeloupe and France, in the presence of thousands of fans. In addition to La Perfecta, the generous artist Paulo Albin has also collaborated with several other musical groups during his long career.
In 2009, the track “La Divinité” was chosen by Martinican director Lucien Jean-Baptiste as the soundtrack of his film “La Première Étoile”.
Paulo Albin was also a councillor in his hometown, Le Robert. A wake was held at the Mansarde sports hall on Friday November 22 to pay him tribute, before his funeral celebrated on Saturday November 23. Crowds of family, friends, artists and fans attended both sad events.
The show must go on with La Perfecta, even if Paulo Albin has joined the stars in the sky. The man with the golden voice leaves an important musical work.
