| About The Gift of Education Presents | A native of Haiti, Mirlande Butler has developed a following in France, Brazil and US for her unique and delicate style of singing a mix of pop, jazz, Bossa Nova in French, English, Spanish and Haitian Creole. She links singing with the foundation she runs to promote education and institutional development in Haiti and often says that child education should be a human right not a privilege. French popular music of the 70s and 80s has considerably shaped her style. When the Duvalier's regime toppled in the middle of the latter decade, a host of newly sprung artists and styles emerged in the country. The traditional romantic and nonchalant style was fast replaced by a more popular, nationalist genre which reflected and spoke to the struggle of the Haitian people to break free from the dictatorship era. Performing since childhood, Mirlande has sung to large and small audiences alike in the United States, Brazil and France among other places. Writer and guitarist John Elder says of her: 'Mimi sings beautifully and with emotional power in four languages. Her style is the human heart.' |
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