From devastation comes music

Gilbert DeLaRosa
CNN Photojournalist

I’ve traveled globally for CNN as a photojournalist, but nothing compares to my last assignment. I spent 20 days in Port-au-Prince, Haiti covering the aftermath of the January 12 earthquake. I’m used to seeing death and destruction but never at this level. But in the middle of my time there, I stumbled into much more than destruction.

After working long hours and seeing a lot of death and rubble in Port-au-Prince, we got word that the City of Jacmel had been badly hit and was receiving little assistance. Jacmel is known as the cultural center of Haiti and is known for arts and music.

Normally it’s an hour and a half drive we estimated the drive to Jacmel would take us at least four hours. We got up early and our crew jumped into two cars. I ended up driving with two Haitians, a driver and a hired guide. As we boarded the truck, one of the drivers asked me if he could turn some music on and I quickly agreed.

A music lover myself, I did not expect to hear what I heard next - a rippin' guitar riff followed by a thunderous drum beat and a voice that left me with no doubt that the guy was going to be big, really big.

I was told he was a 20-year-old local artist named Yohann Dore. We listened to the only track the driver had called “By My Side.”

We drove for two hours, passing destruction and people without homes, and we listened to this one track over and over again.

The music, along with the devastating scenery, was burned into my memory. The driver said the artist was local and that he knew him very well and even worked on his video. He also said he was a rising star in Haiti. He took me to meet him and I was able to join Dore as he was passing out food and doing all he could for the people from the area.

Turns out he has a lot of really good music and he is deeply affected by the earthquake, so much that he’s put music on hold temporary to help out his fellow Haitians.

To find out more about Yohann and his music and movement you can go here.