Kenny Desmangles' Amazing Talent on Display on his First Solo Album
By Ralph Delly
Kenny Desmangles just released his first solo album "Full Sèvis" this year, and started living what once was a dream. A die-hard musician from New York, is making his dream come true one step at a time. Everyone who knows Kenny knows he has been blessed with the same kind talent his peers has. Kenny Desmangle was a role model for hard work and most of all music. As a relentless artist he could always sing better than he spoke, words came second to songs for him. I have known Kenny for quite some time, and I have always admired him for being himself, and speaking out to the world in his own way. I remember talking on the phone with him one day, and he expressed to me how close music is to his heart, so much that he didn't care how long it took to get to the peak of his career. As a youngster, Kenny Desmangles was a voracious listener of Compas music. Ti Manno, Cubano, Raymond Cajuste, Shoubou, Boulo Valcourt, Lionel Ritchie,
Brian Mc Knight, Jordany Joseph, Roger Colas, Smokey Robinson, Earth Wind and Fire, all ranked among his earliest influences. Beginning in the late 80's, Kenny was discovered in a band called "See Well" that attracted the youth in New York, that's where he was provided a traditional singing experience. But, he truly began to sing in a talent show at "Holly Name", a chruch in upper Manhattan. He then created his first group called "Zouke", which had nothing to do with Zouk, but simply Compas music. Although he was being groomed to be too impatient, he followed in his favorite artists' footsteps instead—expressing a preference to become a writer and a singer rather than a keyboardist. The title of the album should not mislead us, behind heavy and harcore Compas music stands a passionate love story, born from the rhythms of his repertoire. Each of us has a story to tell, and the nostalgia comes after the reality that most things end in music. Kenny watched the pace to change during the 1990's when he regularly stood for Alan Cave in ZIN and his singing delivery played just for what we see a talented artist as a roller coaster with ups and downs, but never without a dose of excellence. He then caught the attention of Alan Cave, Alex Abellard and Eddy St-Vil. This was a turning point in his career and led to numerous appearances in the USA. He began to live in Miami, and played with leading exponents with the group 509 that he formed with Ralph Menelas. He continued to be involved in music after he broke with his own band to join Zenglen where he attracted a fan following. Kenny Desmangles explored Compas music and merged it with contemporary American soul. His compositions for "Full Sèvis" for which he wrote and arranged it all, will certainly win great acclaim. His music is mirrored in the album, reflecting his tremendous talent, and his passion for what is good. For many, when they have failed to find the words to express their feeling or love, admiration or even exasperation, Kenny Desmangles, as a writer, composer, arranger and singer has stepped forward with his songs to lend suitable words to those feelings. with 11 songs on the album, and with the participation of the creme de la creme such as Michael Guirand (Carimi), Gazman (Disip), Shabba (Djakout #1), Shedley Abraham, Makarios Cesaire, Yves Abel, Ralph Menelas, Sexy Beef, Dano Eugene, Ezdrass Edouard, Nicolina, Eddy Germain and so many more, much of the 11 tracks will be on the lips of Compas aficionados because it's all good.
