Issa the Saieh (Petit Goave, Haiti, February 22, 1919; † February 2, 2005) was a musician and conductor of Haiti. Biography
He was born in Petit Goave on February 22, 1919, into a family of Palestinian immigrants, becoming a Haitian citizen at the age of twenty-one. He developed a commercial activity as an art dealer in the Haitian capital from 1954.
His band became popular in Port-au-Prince in the forties and fifties. His music reflects a mixture of elements of Cuban music and jazz harmonies without losing its creole essence. In it participated musicians like Ti Ro Ro and the singer Guy Durosier.
In 1957 he recorded a selection of his songs in Havana. The notes on that record were written by Bebo Valdés.
Issa was one of five Haitian musicians honored at Lincoln Center on June 27, 1998.
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