KOMPA! MAGAZINE

[DJ Kreyol]

Conde, Laporte and El Pozo.

What do these guys have in common? Well all three are HOUSEHOLD names in kompa. These men are praised for their grooves year after year. During the last decade, these three have been in the forefront of konpa direk.

Menelas.

Who? Well this guy is not a household name, but actually deserves to be in the ranks of the THREE I just mentioned.

The height of Ralph Menelas' career was when he was the lead guitarist of the Miami band Zenglen. Zenglen at the time was the Chou Chou of Miami, due to their lead singer Gracia Delva and upcoming maestro and producer Ritchie. It was in Zenglen, where Ralph really made his name and respect amongst fellow musicians and kompa experts.

Menelas would eventually leave Zenglen. He brainstormed on idea of a group called 509. 509 was formed with the idea of being an alternative to a defunct Zenglen (without Delva) and a raising band Nu-Look. Ralph surrounded himself around YOUTH. Names like Carlo Chevueax and Ti Harold were apart of this youth movement. Ralph finally chose an upcoming singer in Kenny Desmangles to sing in front of the band. The 509 had a buzzworthy success on STAGE and in their single "Fake". With this limited success, the band wanted to exploit their success and go to Haiti. Unfortunately at the time, Ralph has traveling issues. The band went without him and Menelas would never return to 509.

As 509's life was dying off, Ralph had another project in mind. The project was called Neks. Again Ralph surrounded himself around the youngest and talented musicians in Miami. Ti Lunet, Ti Doo and Katalog. The band released one single and performed at the Compas Festival. Things were going well. Issues were now surrounded by studio work. Ralph faced a coup d'etat and the band was taken by Katalog and Ti Lunet. Once again, Ralph found himself alone.

Ralph then went back to the drawing board and approached Pipo about joining forces. Pipo was in Hangout and it was obvious and apparent that Hangout was going nowhere fast. So Ralph, Pipo and Fritz Bonheur formed Beldjazz. The band debuted with an album called Van Vire. People adored the CD. On stage the band were a DELIGHT, but back stage the band began getting a tag of not paying giggers and others for their services.

In January 2010, Gazzman Couleur left the almighty Nu-Look. Many saw this was going to be Beldjazz's opportunity to claim the number one band status in Miami. Unfortunately, many were wrong once again. After a disagreement in Haiti between Pipo and Ralph, Pipo offered himself to Arly to become the NEW LEAD SINGER of Nu-Look. Arly and Co. accepted. And once again, Ralph found himself alone.

Ralph Menelas has been a TOP 5 GUITARIST in the HMI for the past 10 years, however NO ONE gets to hear him play. His story is really unlike any other.

What will Ralph do now?

Will Ralph accept just being a guitarist like he was in Zenglen?

Will Ralph continue in his quest of having his own band?

Or will Ralph look at this 3 STRIKES as signs that ENOUGH IS ENOUGH?
_________________
"Mrs. Jones, we got a thing going on...."

[kafou]

DJ KREYOL,

GREAT POST MAN.... however Ralph menelas came from great Musical trees!!!! chaje lot menelas ki fo tou oui!!!

I don't think he should view it as 3 strikes you out, instead whatever Flaws he has in the musical aspect of his life, he should work harder to improve them.

Life is short!!!!!!!!
_________________
JISKOZO EPI NINPOTKIJAN

A LA MANIERE DE MIZIK LAKAY
" OU DI OU CHAJE KLAS, ENBIN POUKISA OU PA ALLER FE LEKOL AVEK YO"

[Gromosso]

Kreyol,

one rectification before I proceed with my comments. Beljazz had already been put together when Ralph was asked to join the band. The band had already released their debut single "La Femme De Mon Patron" prior to Ralph joining the band. In that sense, he was not a founding member. He later on became a co-owner of the band when Pipo (from what I've been told) approached him about Beljazz.

Ralph is a very underrated guitarist. He may not be a household name like Laporte, Ralph Conde, and Pozo but the man belongs right up there with the aforementioned three. Ralph is one my favorite Compas Direct guitar players.

Respekte Menelas!

I will post some audio of Ralph's guitar when I leave Mr Blan's house in an hour.

[kompa'npiwo]

MIZISYEN AK TALENT SE YOUN, SUPERSTAR SE YON LOT. ATIDID SE PWAZON POU'W AVANSE.
_________________
[URL=http://img191.imageshack.us/i/legendbaner4.jpg/]

[sansan29]

I remembered Ralph"bad ass"Melenas in zenglen.The guy is a great guitarist.
_________________
Douby,Hjoseph=singers;Mitou=gong;Carries=trombone;Judah=trumpet;Paul,Ceran=saxes;Tnes=bass;
Regi,Ronnie=guitars;Tjean=drum;Martial=tambour;Adclat,Kenny=claviers= the greatest haitian band

[kompamagazine]

KREYOL

EXCELLENT POST man.

Good job.

KM!
_________________
phpbb:echo dicks;

[DONCUE_69]

great musicians, i always admire his skills, but when we look at his resumes we can tell not everybody can lead a band, all his past projects are short lived
_________________
K- ONPA
L- OVERS
A- DORE
S- WEET
S- OUND
klass it is bebi

[yanvaloo]

pa guin tankou Medelas ....1 of the best ....don't know if it's bad luck ...or personality ...But the guy sure have talent.

And i really feel bad ...cause the he was really Grooving in Beljazz ...hmph HMPH HMi saaaaaaa enfin .
_________________

[kdrummerboy]

MENELAS IS A DECENT GUITAR PLAYER (TO ME), I REALLY DON'T THINK HE'S IN RALPH CONDE NOT EVEN LAPORT'S CALIBER. IF YOU LISTEN TO ZENGLEN LIVE VOLUME 3 WHERE THEY HAD CONDE AND MENELAS TOGETHER, CONDE annhihilate ralph like a piece of cake.... LACK OF DISCIPLINE AND DETERMINATION TO ONE CAUSE IS WHAT IS KILLING MENELAS RIGHT NOW. HE DIND'T HAVE THE PATIENCE TO STAY WITH ZENGLEN! I BELIEVE IN THIS HMI, YOU HAVE TO STAY IN ONE SPOT TO MAKE YOUR NAME... IF YOU'LL MOVE FROM BANDS TO BANDS, NO ONE WILL TAKE YOUR SKILLS SEROUS!
_________________
MAKING IMPROVEMENT IS A LIFESTYLE

[sansan29]

kdrummerboy wrote:

MENELAS IS A DECENT GUITAR PLAYER (TO ME), I REALLY DON'T THINK HE'S IN RALPH CONDE NOT EVEN LAPORT'S CALIBER. IF YOU LISTEN TO ZENGLEN LIVE VOLUME 3 WHERE THEY HAD CONDE AND MENELAS TOGETHER, CONDE annhihilate ralph like a piece of cake.... LACK OF DISCIPLINE AND DETERMINATION TO ONE CAUSE IS WHAT IS KILLING MENELAS RIGHT NOW. HE DIND'T HAVE THE PATIENCE TO STAY WITH ZENGLEN! I BELIEVE IN THIS HMI, YOU HAVE TO STAY IN ONE SPOT TO MAKE YOUR NAME... IF YOU'LL MOVE FROM BANDS TO BANDS, NO ONE WILL TAKE YOUR SKILLS SEROUS!

Kdrummer,
I been admired Conde sice Papash;but he is not a better guitarist than Lapuerta.back to the tropic.
_________________
Douby,Hjoseph=singers;Mitou=gong;Carries=trombone;Judah=trumpet;Paul,Ceran=saxes;Tnes=bass;
Regi,Ronnie=guitars;Tjean=drum;Martial=tambour;Adclat,Kenny=claviers= the greatest haitian band