Michel S. Pressoir

Michel Pressoir, son of Yvonne Althemany and Sosthenes Pressoir, was born on November 13, 1934, at Hospice St. Michel in Jacmel, Haiti. He later attended Lycée Louverture in Port-au-Prince. While living at Ruelle Jérémie in 1947, he met singer Jean-Marie Durand, who inspired him to pursue music. Around that time, he and neighborhood friends formed a small group, his first step toward what would become a lifelong career.

Michel’s talent quickly set him apart. He won first prize and received a standing ovation at the Radio Theatre Competition “In Search of the Stars” at Cine Paramount. He later traveled to the Dominican Republic to compete in the Radio Theater of Santo Domingo’s “Buscando La Estrella,” where he again won first prize.

He eventually formed his own band and performed at well-known venues, including the Rivera Hotel, Hotel Thorlande, Casino International with the Riverside Orchestra, Danthor Night Club, and Club Camaraderie alongside the Nemours Jean-Baptiste ensemble.

In June 1965, Michel moved to New York, where he and others founded the First Haitian Band of Chicago. They purchased and performed at Club Panama, where Michel also released his first LP, Jesebel, in 1965. After the club closed in 1969, he relocated to Washington, D.C., performing at the internationally known Black Beret. There, he showcased his remarkable versatility, singing in English, French, Creole, Spanish, German, and Greek.

He later met Nelida Rosa Martinez, and the two were married in 1976. They shared a lifelong bond of love and unwavering devotion, remaining together until her passing in 2016.

Michel continued performing for many years, including at the Vesuvio Club in Adelphi, Maryland. In 1980, he produced his second LP, Preve De Toi, in his home studio. In 2003, he and Nelida moved to Port Saint Lucie, Florida, where he built another home studio and continued creating music.

Beyond music, Michel enjoyed playing soccer, traveling, and spending time with loved ones. He was known for his kindness, his generosity, and his ability to fill a room with laughter. His charm and wit left a lasting impression on everyone he met. He was deeply loved by his community and will be remembered as a pioneer and a legend in Haitian music.

Michel is survived by his siblings: Marie Braun, Marie-Sosthene Pressoir, Marie-Edith Pressoir, Eva Pressoir, Yrvose Pressoir, Victor Pressoir, Marie-Willei Pressoir and Maxim Pressoir; and by his nieces and nephews: Blanca Boucree, Ray Diaz, Stephania Brezault, Alexandra Clerge, Patrick Clerge, Nora Wells, Lionel Woolley, Gloria Knox, Lionel Roc, Charlie Pelerin, Jerome Brown, Vanessa Pressoir, Alexander Pressoir, Christopher Pressoir, Alexa Pressoir, Herwick III Pressoir, Steven Pressoir, and Florian Pressoir.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Nelida Pressoir, and his brothers Yvon Pressoir and Herwick II Pressoir.