Jacob Desvarieux (1955-2021) *65

was a French singer, arranger, and music producer. He was a founding member of the band Kassav'. Desvarieux's mother, who travelled often, took him to Guadeloupe when he was three months old. He spent the next years in Guadeloupe and Martinique before moving to Senegal. At the age of 16, while living in Marseille, he formed a rock group called The Bad Grass, which then changed its name to Sweet Bananas. They recorded a track titled Bilboa dance, which played during the credits of a morning game show on RMC.

Upon his return to Paris, Desvarieux met Pierre-Édouard Décimus, with whom he founded the Caribbean music group Kassav' in 1979. He played a large part in the group's development and influence at an international level. In 1999, he released a solo album, Euphrasine's Blues. In 2003, he was featured on a Bisso Na Bisso song, Dis l'heure 2 zouk.