Hibiscus Records: A Story to Pass On
Press Release
Fort-de-France — July 21, 2025,
Photo by Fabrice Mauvois
Founded in 1983 by Jean-Michel Mauriello and his wife Marilène, Hibiscus Records was born from a strong ambition: to create a space dedicated to Caribbean artists, defend independent music production, and promote Martinican cultural heritage. At a time when major French record labels largely ignored Caribbean music, Hibiscus was one of the very first labels to amplify the voices of the Caribbean.
1. Jean-Michel and Marilène Mauriello — 2. Hibiscus Records studio of the time, in Clairière Fort-de-France
Located on rue des Hibiscus in Fort-de-France, the label quickly became a place of creation and meeting. Major figures such as Dédé Saint-Prix, Éric Virgal, Kali, Max Ransay, Eugène Mona, Jean-Luc Guanel, Manuel Cesaire, Thierry Lof, Tony Chasseur, Marcé, as well as members of Kwak, Taxi Kréol, Tabou Combo, or Magnum Band regularly crossed paths there. Thanks to the involvement of all Hibiscus collaborators, the commitment of loyal friends, and the vision of the Mauriello couple, a true Caribbean musical ecosystem came to life.
Photo by Fabrice Mauvois
With the upheavals in the music market, the gradual closure of record stores, and the collapse of physical distribution channels, the label fell into a slumber in the early 2000s. However, its catalog, archives, and memory remain intact: a treasure waiting for rebirth.
2025, forty years later, at the initiative of Marilène Mauriello, with the support of her daughters and under the impetus of KRIBBEAN (kribbean.com), a Martinican cultural startup committed to transmitting Caribbean musical heritage in the digital age, Hibiscus Records is reborn.
Marilène Mauriello — Photo by Fabrice Mauvois
The ambition is clear: to reactivate this historical fund, digitize the works, restore artists' rights, and above all, pass on to younger generations a precious musical heritage, often forgotten, but essential to our collective memory.
This renewal is embodied through the distribution and digital promotion of the entire catalog, the rediscovery of forgotten figures, as well as support for contemporary artistic projects nourished by sound, memory, and transmission.
It is the passion that drives us in this profession!!! — M. Mauriello
The goal is to correct the mistakes of the past, to develop Hibiscus Records, with a view to transmission for new generations and to preserve the heritage of Martinican music.
Contact:
hibiscus.records@orange.fr / hibiscusrecords@kribbean.com / Facebook / Instagram
Follow KRIBBEAN on Website | Instagram | Facebook | Youtube | Twitter
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