The compilation series explore the archives of one of the greatest of all French Caribbean labels, Disques Debs out of Guadeloupe.
Created by the late Henri Debs during the late ‘50s, Disques Debs was a label and a studio that released over 300 7” singles and 200 LPs, covering styles varying from early biguine and bolero to zouk and reggae. It played a pivotal role in bringing the créole music of Guadeloupe and Martinique to a wider international audience.
An Island Story: Biguine, Afro Latin & Musique Antillaise 1960-1972 is the first volume of this series. It’s focused on the first decade of the label’s existence and takes in big band orchestras, home-grown stars, touring bands and a new generation that would emerge at the end of the ‘60s. Early releases were recorded in the back of Henri’s shop in Pointe-a- Pitre, from his own sextet playing percussive biguines to young saxophonist Edouard Benoit, leader of Les Maxels and regular arranger for Debs bands. Other artists ranged from big bands like Orchestre Esperanza and Orchestre Caribbean Jazz to poet and radio personality Casimir “Caso” Létang and folkloric gwo ka artist Sydney Leremon. Debs also capitalised on recording foreign touring artists visiting Guadeloupe during the early ‘60s including Haitian trumpeter Raymond Cicault and Trinidadian bandleader Cyril Diaz.
Compiled by Hugo Mendez (Sofrito) and Emile Omar (Radio Nova), ‘Disques Debs International’ is released in conjunction with Henri Debs Et Fils and Air Caraibes. The package features a host of rare and unseen photos from the Debs archive with both formats featuring extensive sleeve notes and interviews with Philippe Debs and Max “Maxo” Severin of Les Vikings. Volumes 2 and 3 follow in 2019.*
*Text from Strut Records
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