When Wyclef Jean agreed to headline Florida Tech’s 2016 Homecoming Fest, some may have wondered why the three-time Grammy Award winner who has worked with some of music’s biggest stars and sold millions of records worldwide, decided to give a free concert during Florida Tech’s homecoming fest. The answer was simple – respect.
With a new year upon us it’s natural to take a look back at the highlights of the last year. Without a doubt, one of the best moments occurred during our 2016 Homecoming Fest on October 14 in downtown Melbourne when the iconic and influential hip-hop artist Wyclef Jean took the stage before a mesmerized audience. Jean was last on the Space Coast in 2015 when he attended the funeral of fellow Haitian Fidgi Haig, who coached Florida Tech’s women’s soccer team for 10 seasons. The two were working together on initiatives to improve their beloved homeland at the time of Haig’s death. Jean’s concert was a tribute to Haig – a man he deeply respected.
Hip-hop star Wyclef Jean gave a free concert in downtown Melbourne during Florida Institute of Technology’s 2016 Homecoming Fest.
Wyclef dedicated the performance to his late friend, fellow Haitian and former Florida Tech Head Soccer coach, Fidgi Haig.
This international star is the founding member of the hip-hop group, The Fugees.
In 1997, Wyclef began a solo career as a writer, performer and producer.
Some fans brought along Haitian flags in celebration of the country where Wyclef was born.
Florida Tech students, staff and faculty joined hundreds of others in the community to watch the concert.
At one point during the concert, Wyclef decided to get a little closer to the audience and leapt from the stage.
He even serenaded the audience from a tree.
The crowd loved the fact that Wyclef wanted to get up close and personal with the them.
Some of the artists he has written and remixed songs with include; Shakira, Destiny’s Child, Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, Black Eyed Peas and Mick Jagger.
He even filed to run for president of impoverished Haiti in 2010 after an earthquake killed more than 200,000 people.
Florida Tech’s Vice President of Alumni Affairs and former soccer player Bino Campanini, got a nice lift from the star during the concert.
