Born in Haiti, the third child in a family of nine siblings, Anna Pierre immigrated to the United States in 1981 and has been a resident of South Florida ever since. She attended Lindsey Hopkins Technical Education Center, where she obtained her High School Diploma and Practical Nursing education from 1982 to 1984. While working at The Miami Jewish Home and Hospital for the Aged, she continued her studies at Miami Dade Community College, becoming a Registered Nurse in May of 1987.
Anna Pierre’s higher education includes a Bachelor in Health Services Administration from Barry University, earned in December 1995, and a Master in Public Health from Florida International University, completed in December 1999. She also holds certifications from various disciplines in her field.
With her flourishing nursing career underway, Anna Pierre suddenly had an opportunity in 1987 to explore another one of her many talents. She had always loved singing, but growing up in a country where music was not a popular profession for women, she quickly understood that she had to prioritize her nursing career. When a friend asked her to perform in a show he was producing at the Joseph Caleb Center in Miami, she agreed. The response was so overwhelmingly positive that she began taking voice and piano lessons and writing her own songs.
Her next step was to record an album, but producers told her to return once she was better known and had completed the “back-up singing for known performers” prerequisite. As usual, Anna Pierre refused to accept rejection. She often said, “I hate to hear ‘no.’ I refuse to let people tell me you can’t do this, you can’t do that because I am a woman, because of where I come from, or because I have a French name. It’s like putting fuel in my tank.” Fueled by determination, she formed her own company, A.P. Productions, Inc., found her own musicians, and produced and released her first album in November 1989.
That album, which included the hit single “Mete Suk Sou Bonbon-m,” made her an overnight success in the United States, Haiti, and parts of Europe. The song remains a favorite among all age groups. At the request of Hispanic and English-speaking fans, “Mete Suk Sou Bonbon-m” was translated into Spanish as “Echale azucar a mi bonbon” and into English as “Put Sugar on My Bonbon.” Through these versions, Anna Pierre conquered hearts across the Caribbean and Latin America. She often said, “Sometimes women must invest in themselves. Be the first to invest in yourself and in your projects, if you believe in your dreams. Others will follow you.”
In addition to “Mete Suk Sou Bonbon-m,” she released two more albums. “Don’t Give Me Heartache” (Pa Vin Rete Ke-m) in 1991, a collection of love songs including the gospel-inspired “Priye Yon Atis,” and “Pa Fe-m Sa Konsa” in 1995, which featured the humorous dance track “Bos Fetout,” The Handyman.
The need for more education to become a better healthcare provider, along with the arrival of her daughter Vicki Imani, led Anna Pierre to take a break from music after the release of “Pa Fe-m Sa Konsa.” She needed time to focus on her studies and raise her family. During this period, she also worked on another passion: providing access to healthcare for the less fortunate.
Now that her daughter is in high school, combined with constant reminders from fans, industry insiders, and her own desire to fill the void in her supporters’ hearts, Anna Pierre returned to music. She recently released a Gospel CD titled “Papa-m Se Wa / My Dad Is a King,” earning her the nickname Princess Anna Pierre. She is also developing a clothing line inspired by her hit songs “Suk Sou Bonbon” (SSB) from her 1989 release and “Zotobre,” which means “Very Important Person / Big Shot,” taken from her latest work. With her signature drive and passion, the singing nurse is ready to conquer the world again.
Despite her achievements, Anna Pierre has never considered singing her primary career. She often says, “Very few Haitian artists are able to sustain themselves and live like their contemporary African-American or Hispanic artists without having another job or profession.” Her primary focus has always been on nursing and serving the public. In fact, her fame as a performer has enhanced her work as a caregiver.
To reach people nationwide, Anna Pierre uses the internet to write sensitive, informative health articles geared toward health promotion and disease prevention. She provides advice, resources, and referral contacts for individuals seeking assistance. Many of her writings are inspired by current news events, allowing her to address real needs in the community.
Through APHEC International, Inc., and with the help of various community-based organizations, she is pioneering several international health initiatives in Haiti, the Caribbean, and Latin America to bring services to underserved communities. To finance these efforts, Anna Pierre uses part of her nursing salary, profits from her music, and revenue from school backpacks she manufactures and sells at discounted prices. These funds help provide access to healthcare for uninsured and vulnerable individuals.
That’s not all. For the past twenty years, she has organized an annual Father’s Day concert where she honors deserving fathers in the community and crowns one “Father of the Year.” When criticized by other women, she responds with her favorite quote: “Stop worrying about what fathers do and don’t do! God will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers.” Thanks to these events, many families have been reunited, people are brought into care early, and countless lives have been saved.
Although busy with school, music, and community work, Anna Pierre always sets aside quality time for her children: Vicki, Wiljuna, and Jay. Even if it means reducing her schedule or involving them in her work, she ensures family remains a priority. As Ashley Rice wrote, “There are women who make things better simply by showing up, women who make things happen, women who make their way, women who make a difference, women who make us smile. There are women of wit and wisdom who, through strength and courage, make it through. There are women who change the world every day. These are women like Anna Pierre.”
