One night a friend introduced him as "a sweet Micky for a sweet people".

BBC: Profile: Michel Martelly

The star is said to have received his stage name - Sweet Micky - in the 1980s while performing at clubs.

BBC: Profile: Michel Martelly

Mr Martelly's shows were patronised by some leading figures in the violent military dictatorship that ousted Mr Aristide later that year, which is when he acquired the nickname of "Sweet Micky".

BBC: Haiti profile