Coupé Cloué (Jean Gesner Henry) was one of Haitian music’s most beloved and original figures — the guitarist who created Kompa Mamba, a hybrid that took the raw, bawdy spirit of traditional Twoubadou and wired it through electric guitar rhythms. Where other konpa bands chased polish, Coupé Cloué built his legend on warmth, humor, and an unmistakable swing that made him a hero of the working class. His decades-long career produced a deep catalog spanning from the 1970s through the 1990s, including Plein Gouyad (1974), L’Essentiel (1978), 5 Continents (1981), En Dedans (1985), Madame Marcel (1990), and the beloved “Ti Pouchon.” Coupé Cloué remains a foundational reference for every artist who has tried to keep Haitian roots music danceable, joyful, and defiantly Haitian.