RAM Band Split: Richard Morse, Lunise Morse, and the Battle for the Name

By Moses St Louis

RAM has long been a force in Haitian music, blending tradition and modern sounds with the voices of Richard Morse and Lunise Morse front and center. Now, the group faces its most public crisis as Richard and Lunise go their separate ways, both personally and professionally. Fans are left wondering who really owns RAM, what comes next for the band, and whether the music can survive this split.

This story matters because RAM isn't just another band. The Morse name and the RAM brand carry weight in Haitian culture and the world music scene. The legal battle over the name, the sudden announcements, and the couple’s feud don’t just affect Richard and Lunise—they send shockwaves through their team, their fans, and music business partners everywhere.

In this article, you’ll get the facts behind the split, a look at both Richard and Lunise’s perspectives, and how this power struggle is shaping the band's future. If you care about RAM's past, present, and what might be next, you’re in the right place.

RAM is a name that carries deep meaning in Haitian music and culture. To truly understand the current split and its impact, you need to know where RAM started, what drove its early sound, and how Richard Morse and Lunise Morse shaped the group throughout the years.

RAM formed in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, back in 1990. The name RAM comes from the initials of its founding leader, Richard Augustin Morse. Richard was born in Puerto Rico but grew up with strong ties to Haiti through his mother, Emerante de Pradines Morse, a celebrated Haitian singer. When Richard set up shop at the historic Hotel Oloffson, he found himself surrounded by the rhythm and power of Haitian roots music (mizik rasin).

He decided to start a band that would blend Haiti’s vodou-inspired rhythms with rock, funk, and folk, creating a sound that stood out. Early RAM shows pulsed with rara horns, driving drums, and lyrics sung in both Creole and English. Their first recording, the album “Aiybobo” (1993), quickly made waves in Haiti and among the Haitian diaspora. People responded to their energy, rich storytelling, and fearless mix of genres.

Local music lovers packed their weekly gigs at the Oloffson, while critics praised how RAM kept Haitian folk traditions alive and fresh. By the late 90s, RAM was a household name in Haiti and started gaining international attention. RAM’s music popped up in soundtracks for films like “Philadelphia” and their songs became rallying cries for political and social change. The band built a loyal, almost cult-like fanbase that crossed borders.

As RAM grew, Richard Morse and Lunise Morse each found their strengths in different parts of the project. Richard was the architect, writing most of the songs and overseeing the production from studio to stage. He handled the arrangements, crafted the lyrics, and made the big decisions about sound and style.

Lunise, who joined RAM in the mid-90s, became the magnetic voice onstage and the group’s manager offstage. She ran performance logistics, booked shows, directed the band during rehearsals, and helped create RAM’s look and image. Lunise connected deeply with the crowd every night, her voice and presence turning RAM’s live shows into must-see events.

Together, they worked as a team, each bringing something unique to the table:

• Richard: Songwriter, producer, arranger, band leader, creative direction

• Lunise: Lead singer, band manager, performance coordinator, branding, public relations

Over time, fans and industry insiders saw RAM not as a one-man show but as a partnership. The original division of creative and managerial duties played a big role in RAM’s rise. Both Morse leaders built the group’s identity, making RAM both a musical movement and a family business.

Knowing this history puts today’s conflict into sharp focus. RAM’s name, style, and legacy were shaped by both Richard and Lunise, but the legal and personal sides of ownership have now collided in full view.

The split between Richard and Lunise Morse didn’t just send ripples through Haitian music but shook up the band’s inner circle and fanbase. Richard’s public announcement made headlines and quickly became hot news in music circles. The real drama soon moved from passionate statements to cold, hard business paperwork. The story of who owns RAM isn't only about emotions and history—it's also about signatures, trademarks, and who controls the band’s future.

Richard Morse stepped in front of the cameras and delivered his announcement with trademark directness. He confirmed both a personal and professional separation from Lunise. He also dropped the bombshell: RAM, as everyone knew it, had come to an end—at least in its current form.

News outlets rushed to report the split. Journalists quoted Richard as saying that legal rights to the band’s name and work would stay with him. Music blogs, radio shows, and even social media pages in Haiti and abroad buzzed with updates almost by the minute. Many fans took to

Richard’s official documents back up his public claims. When it comes to who owns the RAM name in a legal sense, Richard Morse has the receipts. Years ago, he filed for trademark protection under his full name: Richard Augustin Morse. The acronym RAM stands for his initials, making the connection clear in both law and spirit.

Here’s what we know about the legal ownership:

• Trademark Filing: The RAM name is registered with local and international authorities under Richard’s ownership. Trademarks help protect brand names from unauthorized use, allowing only the holder to use them for music, performance, and merchandising.

• Acronym Meaning: RAM is not just a catchy label. It’s rooted in Richard’s own name, giving extra weight to his claim beyond paperwork alone.

• Legal Notices: After the split, Richard’s team sent official communication to Lunise, making it clear she should not use the RAM name for any public performance or business venture. Legal teams have now entered the picture.

For those who wonder why so much focus is on paperwork, the answer’s simple: band names are valuable. They open doors to gigs, merchandise, and music distribution. In RAM’s case, the licensing rights and band reputation carry even more weight because of decades of history.

Ownership, in this case, is not just sentimental—it’s anchored in formal registration and branding law. The combination of Richard’s name and the paperwork could mean that, no matter how strong Lunise’s connection is to RAM’s history, she might have to create something entirely new for her next musical chapter.

The fallout between Richard and Lunise Morse has shined a spotlight on not just the name RAM but on questions about partnership and contributions over decades. While paperwork may point to Richard, Lunise continues to stand her ground both on stage and off. She openly challenges the idea that RAM belongs to just one person and keeps the band’s music alive for fans who see her as the heart and voice of the group.

Lunise believes that RAM is more than just Richard’s initials or a legal trademark. She argues the band’s spirit comes from years spent working side by side, both creatively and as a family. In her view, RAM reflects a shared legacy, shaped by long nights on tour, endless rehearsals, and deep cultural ties to Haiti. She often references these points in her interviews and social media posts:

According to Lunise, her continued use of the RAM name feels both natural and fair. She has publicly stated that no contract or law can erase her role as a co-creator of the band’s style and legacy.

After Richard’s public announcement, Lunise refused to let the RAM brand fade away. Instead, she pushed forward with a full slate of band activity. Doing so kept the music alive and signaled to fans and industry insiders that she was not backing down from the legacy she helped build.

Through these efforts, Lunise shows her determination to stay linked with the RAM name and legacy, even as legal and personal battles continue. Her supporters say she’s carrying on the true spirit of the band—even without Richard on her side.

The split in RAM goes far beyond who leads on stage. It opens up a tangle of legal issues and business risks that put both Richard and Lunise in tricky spots. When a well-known band splits, everything from trademarks to concert deals gets complicated fast. Contracts, royalties, and future partnerships now hang in the balance.

When artists feud over a band name, the law often steps in. In RAM’s case, Richard has a trademark tied directly to his initials, and that could give him a clear path in court. But as music history shows, name disputes rarely end cleanly.

Possible court arguments include:

• Trademark Ownership: Richard’s registration of RAM links strongly to his name. Courts usually side with whoever owns the paperwork, especially if the name is an acronym for that person’s full name.

• Shared Brand Building: Lunise could argue that the band’s public identity came from joint efforts, not just Richard’s initials. Some courts have given co-founders rights to a name if both shaped the brand’s fame.

• Goodwill and Recognition: Lunise has been the public face for decades. Judges sometimes weigh how much the audience connects the name to her presence as well.

Likely outcomes include:

• Richard could keep exclusive rights to the RAM name for music sales, shows, and licensing, forcing Lunise to choose a new name for her future work.

• If Lunise proves joint ownership, a court might split rights, letting both use the name or share royalties.

• There’s always the chance of a settlement, with Lunise using a variation like “Lunise Morse of RAM”.

Disputes over a band name don’t just cause stress—they can throw the whole business into chaos. Current and future income streams tied to RAM now face real risk.

Streaming Revenue:Most music platforms (Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube) pay whoever controls the band’s legal account and catalog. If the trademark fight gets nasty, platforms might freeze payments until the court decides who really owns RAM. That could mean both Morse leaders see delayed or lost revenue from streams and downloads.

Touring Deals:If two acts tour as RAM at the same time, promoters and venues could face lawsuits for using the “wrong” band. Some might pause bookings until the dust settles, costing both sides income and straining relationships with longtime partners.

Industry partners don’t like uncertainty. Agents, other musicians, and record labels might pull back until the RAM name battle ends. Both Richard and Lunise will find it much harder to sign new contracts, book festivals, or get sponsorships while the legal questions are still open.

A name dispute like this one is about more than pride—it has real consequences for everyone involved, from fans to business partners to every musician who ever played in RAM.

The split within RAM leaves the band at a crossroads. How Richard and Lunise choose to move forward will shape not only the future of their music but also the way fans rally around the group. Both sides feel connected to the name and the spirit of RAM, but their next choices could change everything—musically, legally, and emotionally.

Given the painful history and strong claims from both Richard and Lunise, a drawn-out legal fight could damage what’s left of the band’s legacy. Mediation is one path that could help. With a neutral third party, both sides would get space to talk openly, avoid courtroom battles, and possibly find a way that respects their shared work.

The fans have always powered RAM. Since the split, social media and music forums tell a story all their own. Many listeners say that whenever someone says “RAM,” Lunise’s name pops into their minds first. Her voice, charisma, and long stage presence fuel that reaction.

Whatever happens, RAM’s place in Haitian music is set. The name might end up in the hands of one or both, or even change completely, but the spirit created by Richard, Lunise, and their team lives on in the hearts of everyone who played their records, danced at their shows, or watched them blaze through history.

The battle for RAM's name has revealed how fragile even the strongest partnerships can be. Both Richard and Lunise shaped what RAM became, but legal documents give Richard the stronger claim while Lunise’s passion and history keep her connected in the eyes of many fans. The road ahead is uncertain for everyone involved, and the brand’s future hangs in the balance.

As followers of RAM, your viewpoint matters. Who do you believe should carry the name forward? Share your thoughts or stories about what RAM means to you and keep the conversation going.

I report, you decide