Michel Martelly

 Age: 50

 Occupation: Master of Haitian music style known as compas, slowed-down version of merengue heavy on electronic keyboards.

 Family: Lives with wife, Sophia, in Petionville, in the hills above Haiti’s capital. They have four children.

 Political: Has never held political office but has long been active in politics, performing at political rallies. Was known as a vocal critic of former Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, who recently returned from exile. During campaign, promised to build houses in a country that has seen little reconstruction since the January 2010 earthquake and to restore the country’s armed force.

 Background: Son of oil company executive. Attended prestigious Roman Catholic school in Port-au-Prince and junior colleges in U.S., though never graduated. Worked as construction worker in Miami in 1980s.

 Music: Martelly is legendary for antics onstage, sometimes mooning audience, cursing rivals, even wearing diapers and dresses. Got stage name “Sweet Micky” in 1980s while performing at clubs – one night a friend introduced him as “a sweet Micky for a sweet people.” The name stuck.

Associated Press