Kreyòl Roots
Kreyòl Roots is a Haitian-American Haitian roots band located in Chicago, Illinois. They are best known for their unique blend of Caribbean Roots, Zouk, African, and traditional Haitian rhythms.
History
The band was founded by Gerald “Toto” Alfred. Toto has been playing guitar since his adolescence and spent twenty years as the lead guitarist for the Haitian roots band Boukman Eksperyans. Once he relocated to Chicago from Haiti, Gerald “Toto” Alfred began searching for musicians to form Kreyòl Roots.
Composed of musicians hailing from Haiti, Tanzania, Belize, and The United States of America, Kreyòl Roots features Gerald “Toto” Alfred on lead guitar and lead vocals, Parrish Hicks Sr on bass, Ernst “Tines” Albert on percussion and harmony vocals, Margaret Rainey on backup vocals and dance, Juneau “Gino” J. Francois on percussion and backup vocals, Josue Pierre on keyboard, and Dominique Louis on drums and percussion. Guest artists have included Samuel Francis, Sarah Exantus, Emmanuely “Sodoki” Kalimili, and France Jean-Baptiste.
The band has played events such as Chicago’s The Old Town School of Folk Music, Chicago Vegan Mania 2014, Loyola University's Summer on the Plaza, Music on the Mayne Stage, Kick Off to Summer at The Dock at Montrose Beach, Caribbean Heritage Month, Uptown Saturday Nights, and Glenwood Ave Arts Festival. Being able to perform as a small acoustic group as well, the band has performed at Chicago's Swedish, German, and Haitian museums as a two-piece ensemble.