Background: | person |
Clinton Benoit | |
Birth Name: | Clinton Benoit-Jean |
Birth Date: | 20 July 1973 |
Birth Place: | Jacmel, Haiti |
Genre: | Compas, alternative |
Occupation: | Musician and singer-songwriter |
Instrument: | Bass, piano |
Label: | Exit Level Records |
Past Member Of: | Dola Mizik |
Associated Acts: | Compas Direct, Funky Konpa |
Clinton Benoit (born Clinton Benoit-Jean on July 20, 1973) is a Haitian musician and singer-songwriter.[1] Notable associated acts include Tabou Combo and Magnum Band, which are Haitian kompa musical groups based in the United States.
Benoit was born in Jacmel, Haiti. He graduated with a master's degree in Social work and Criminal Justice from Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He also graduated from two law enforcement agencies in the United States. He is currently working on a Ph.D. in behavioral health.
After a short musical career in Haiti, Benoit moved to the United States in 2000. He has performed with many of the top Haitian bands in the United States, such as Tabou Combo, Magnum Band, Mizik-Mizik, Phantom's, D'Zine, Dola-Mizik, Funky Konpa, and Kreyol Alternative.[2] He has also created the first Haitian live salsa.[3]
While in graduate school, Benoit released the album Funky Konpa in 2010.[4] [5] [6] In 2014, Benoit started playing with Dola Mizik and became their lead singer. In 2017, Yves Joseph, a notable singer, composer, and manager of Tabou Combo, contacted Benoit to tour with Tabou Combo.[7]