Perez Gary Didier

Gary Didier Perez (; 5 December 1965 – 28 August 2025) was a Haitian compas singer. Born in Port-au-Prince, he began his career in the late 1980s and became one of the first singers of the band Zenglen, performing alongside Brutus Dérissaint and Patrick Martino. In the early 1990s he created Ozone, further establishing his reputation during that decade.

Perez's repertoire included songs such as "Fidèl", "Tambou Nou", "Anba Latè", and "Kool Claudy". His powerful voice and stage presence contributed to his popularity during what is often regarded as the golden age of compas music.

In the late 1980s, Perez co-founded Zenglen with Brutus Dérissaint and Patrick Martinau. The group became part of the Port-au-Prince music scene and contributed to the development of modern compas. Perez sang on the group's first release, An nou alèz, which included "Fidèl," "Michaela," "Ou te mèt ale," "Tanbou Nou," "Trayizon," and "Kitem." The recordings were popular in Haiti and the Antilles and established him among the leading singers of his generation.

At the height of its success, Perez left Zenglen. He performed briefly with Mizik Mizik and declined an offer to join Boukman Eksperyans as a replacement for Eddy François. In the early 1990s, he formed Ozone, releasing the album Rache Pikan, which featured several of his best-known songs, several of which are regarded as part of the standard compas repertoire. These works combined dance rhythms with lyrical texts and contributed to his reputation as a composer and arranger. Internal difficulties and lack of financial backing limited the group's longevity.

Illness and death Perez suffered from diabetes and chronic kidney failure. In 2021, he revealed that he required regular dialysis. In October 2023, he underwent heart surgery, and in early 2025, he was hospitalized for eight days. He later underwent a partial amputation of his left foot and used a prosthesis. He launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise US$40,000 for medical costs.

Perez died in the United States on 28 August 2025, at the age of 59. His death was announced by Brutus Derissaint on the official page of Zenglen. Figures in the Haitian music industry, including Fabrice Rouzier, paid tribute to him on social media. Writing for Le National, described Perez as one of the leading voices of compas in the 1990s and stated that his death marked the end of a chapter in the history of the genre.

Albums Rache Pikan (1992)