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Machel Montano

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Machel Montano
Machel Montano performing in 2007
Machel Montano performing in 2007
Background information
Birth nameMachel Montano
Born (1974-11-24) 24 November 1974 (age 49)[1]
Carenage, Trinidad and Tobago[1]
OriginSiparia, Trinidad and Tobago[1]
GenresSoca
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter, record producer
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar, keyboards, percussion
Years active1982–present
LabelsMonk Music
Websitewww.machelmontano.com

Machel Montano (born 24 November 1974)[2] is a Trinidadian soca recording artist and record producer. Known for his high energy, fast-paced, and often unpredictable on-stage performances, he is one of the genre's most popular artists.[3][4]

Early life

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Montano was born in Carenage (Northwestern Trinidad) on 24 November 1974 and his family moved to Siparia (Southwestern Trinidad), when he was very young. He attended Siparia Boys R.C., then Presentation College, San Fernando, where he sang in the school's choir led by Mrs Cynthia Lee-Mack.[1][5]

Machel's first shot to fame as a nine-year-old boy came with the song "Too Young To Soca" while he was still in primary school. In 1984, along with his older brother Marcus and neighbours, the group Panasonic Express was started and, in 1989, the band became Xtatik. In April 1986, at the age of 11, Montano appeared on the mainstream television show Star Search.[6][7] In 1987, he took part in the Trinidad and Tobago National Song Writers Festival, and placed second with his song "Dream Girl". He also won the Caribbean Song Festival in Barbados, becoming the first Trinidadian and youngest contestant to win this competition.[8]

Musical career

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Machel (center) performing on stage alongside Zan (left) and Farmer Nappy (right)

Montano's band was originally entitled the Panasonic Express. The band was later re-invented and retitled by leader Montano as The Xtatik Circus, Xtatik, The Road Marching Band and The Band of the Year. Since 2007 they have been known as Machel Montano HD (High Definition).[9][9] During the early 2000s, Kernal Roberts, son of the late calypsonian Lord Kitchener, was appointed the band's drummer and musical director.

Machel Montano performing at a fete at Brian Lara's house in Barbados (2008)


Montano also co-presented the International Sounds of Soca show on BBC Radio 1Xtra for four years with DJ Slic.[10] His successful singles, with and without Xtatik, include "Big Truck" (Xtatik's most successful single, which won the Road March title in 1997), "Outa Space" (with Beenie Man), "Music Farm" (Xtatik), "It's Carnival" (with Destra Garcia), and his Road March title wins in 2006, "Band Of The Year" (with Patrice Roberts), and in 2007, "Jumbie".

As well 1998's Toro Toro featuring Shaggy peaked at No. 19 on the UK Independent Singles chart & 2015's One Wine featuring Sean Paul and Major Lazer peaked at No. 37 on the US Billboard Dance/Electronic Digital Song Sales chart. What's more, Mr Fete along with Soca Kingdom featuring Superblue both peaked at No. 22 on the US Billboard World Digital Song Sales chart.[11][12]

He is very well known in New York City, where he has had sold-out concerts in Madison Square Garden many times over.[13] Machel is a six-time International Soca Monarch,[14] a ten-time Trinidad and Tobago Road March winner and a one-time Calypso Monarch.[15][16]

Appearances in other media

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Montano made his movie debut with Bazodee (2016), which was filmed entirely in Trinidad and Tobago. He stars in the movie as a soca singer who falls in love with a businessman's daughter.[17][18]

In 2023 Montano also released an autobiographical documentary entitled "Machel Montano: Journey of a Soca King".

Accolades

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In November 2014 Montano won a Soul Train Award for Best International Performance for the song "Ministry of Road (M.O.R.)". His win for "Ministry of Road" is the second consecutive win at the BET Soul Train Music Awards for Soca Music just after Bunji Garlin won in 2013 with Differentology.[19]

On November 15, 2018 Montano acquired a honorary doctorate of arts from the University of Trinidad and Tobago.[20] He was later bestowed, in September 2022, with a Hummingbird Gold Medal, a national award of Trinidad and Tobago.[21]

Personal life

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Montano holds a Master's degree in Carnival Studies from the University of Trinidad and Tobago.[22]

On 14 February 2020, Montano married his longtime girlfriend Renee Butcher. Where his wedding ceremony occured at T&T's' Red House, the nation's parliament building.[23] He's also a father of three children, Melanie, Nicholas and Maya Journey.[24]

Discography

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Patrice Roberts (left) and Machel perform at UWI Splash in Chaguaramas, Trinidad.
Machel and his band perform in front of a live audience at a fete

Solo albums

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  • Too Young to Soca? (1985)
  • Soca Earthquake (1987)
  • Dr. Carnival (1988)
  • Katch Ya! (1989)
  • Breakin Out! (1990)
  • One Step Ahead! (1991)
  • 2000 Young To Soca (2000 Re-Edition)
  • The Xtatik Parade (2004)
  • The Xtatik Experience (2005)
  • B.O.D.Y. - Band Of D Year (2006)
  • The Book of Angels (2007)
  • Flame On, released as Winning Season in the United States (2008)
  • Heavenly Drum (2009)
  • Album 34 (2010)
  • The Return (2011)
  • Double M (2012)
  • Going for Gold (2012) - Machel Montano and Friends
  • Machelements (Volume 1) (2013)
  • Happiest Man Alive (2014)
  • Monk Monté (2015)
  • Monk Evolution (2016)
  • G.O.A.T. (2019)
  • The Wedding Album (2021)

Xtatik albums

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  • X Amount Ah Sweetnesss (1992)
  • Soca Style Hot (1993)
  • By All Means (EP) (1994)
  • Loose Yuh Waist (1995)
  • Men at Work (1996)
  • Heavy Duty (1997)
  • Xtatik Live (1997)
  • Charge (1998)
  • Any Minute Now (1999)
  • Here Comes the Band (2000)
  • Same High (2001)
  • On the Cusp (2002)
  • The Xtatik Circus (2003 – as "Xtatik Band 5.0")

Guest appearances

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Main appearances

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  • APRIL 29, 2024: Musical Masquerade, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, Carnival Village
  • APRIL 14, 2024: Rejuvenate – Long Island, Long Island, New York, UBS Arena
  • APRIL 6, 2024: Jamaica Carnival with GenXS, Kingston, Jamaica
  • MARCH 3, 2024: BRT Weekend Jamaica – Ocho Rios, Ocho Rios, Pearly Beach
  • JANUARY 14, 2024: Machel Montano Hosting Rise & Toast Miami, Miami, Florida, The Urban
  • OCTOBER 29, 2023: World Creole Music Festival, Roseau, Dominica, Windsor Park Sports Stadium
  • OCTOBER 6, 2023: Tipsy Miami, Miami, Florida
  • SEPTEMBER 23, 2023: Guyana Super Concert, Georgetown, Guyana, Providence Stadium
  • SEPTEMBER 7, 2023: Melé Cancun, Cancun, Mexico, Moon Palace
  • SEPTEMBER 3, 2023: Sunny Side Up, New York, Coney Island Artwall
  • AUGUST 5, 2023: Oualichi Festival, Philipsburg, Sint Maarten, The St. Maarten Festival Village
  • JULY 23, 2023: Tipsy Music Festival, Bridgetown, Barbados, National Botanical Gardens
  • JULY 7, 2023: BRT Weekend Atlantic City, Atlantic City, New Jersey, Atlantic City Beach & Boardwalk
  • JULY 3, 2023: Guyana Super Concert, Toronto, Coca-Cola Coliseum
  • JUNE 22, 2023: Hollywood Carnival, Los Angeles, Hollywood Boulevard
  • APRIL 24, 2023: Endless Wuk, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, St. Thomas Carnival Village
  • APRIL 15, 2023: WiFete, Kingston, Jamaica, Sabina Park
  • FEBRUARY 17, 2023: Machel 40 – One Show, Port of Spain, Hasely Crawford Stadium
  • NOVEMBER 27, 2022: Imagine Weekend, Bridgetown, Barbados, Kensington Oval
  • NOVEMBER 23, 2022: Roast of Machel Montano, Brooklyn, NY, Kings Theatre
  • OCTOBER 7, 2022: Tipsy Miami, Miami, Florida, Bayfront Park
  • OCTOBER 1, 2022: Super Concert 2, Georgetown, Guyana, Guyana National Stadium
  • SEPTEMBER 5, 2022: Soca Kingdom NYC, Brooklyn, NYC, Barclay's Center
  • JULY 30, 2022: Carnival Kingdom, Markham, Ontario, Markham Fairgrounds
  • JULY 16, 2022: BRT Weekend Atlantic City, Atlantic City, New Jersey, Atlantic City Beach & Boardwalk
  • JULY 1, 2022: Essence Festival, New Orleans, Louisiana, TBD
  • JUNE 25, 2022: D-Nice’s Club Quarantine Live in LA, Los Angeles, California, Crypto.com Arena
  • MAY 27, 2022: Orlando Carnival Weekend, Orlando, Florida, 9755 Delegates Dr

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Machel Montano". Archived from the original on 17 August 2016. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  2. ^ Thompson, Dave (2002), Reggae & Soca Music, Backbeat Books, ISBN 0-87930-655-6, pp. 300–301.
  3. ^ McLeod, Sheri-kae (19 December 2017). "Top 10 Soca Artists That You Need to Know Right Now". Culture Trip. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  4. ^ "Meet Machel Montano: Soca Boss, Trinidadian Booster and... Film Star?". Billboard. 23 September 2015. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  5. ^ Dixon, Bobie-lee. "Machel Montano Soca Monarch Artiste of the Week". guardian.co.tt. Trinidad Guardian. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  6. ^ "Machel Montano: 50th Birthday Celebration | Kennedy Center". The Kennedy Center. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  7. ^ "An exclusive interview with soca star Machel Montano". New York Amsterdam News. New York, N.Y. 20 September 2007. p. 24. ProQuest 390234325.
  8. ^ Montano, Machel. "Montano Bio". Machel Montano. Archived from the original on 27 February 2014. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  9. ^ a b "MACHEL MONTANO".
  10. ^ "1Xtra announces August 2004 activity" (press release), BBC, 8 July 2004.
  11. ^ "TORO TORO by MACHEL FT SHAGGY". Official Charts. 24 October 1998. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  12. ^ "Machel Montano | Biography, Music & News". Billboard. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  13. ^ New York Amsterdam News, Vol. 98, Issue 39, 20 September 2007, pp. 24–25.
  14. ^ "FADER Five: Machel Montano's Winning-Worthy Soca Jams". The FADER. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
  15. ^ Dowrich-Phillips, Laura (28 December 2019). "Artiste of the Decade: Machel Montano | Loop Trinidad & Tobago". Loop News. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  16. ^ "Machel Montano takes 2024 Calypso Monarch crown | Loop Trinidad & Tobago". Loop News. 12 February 2024. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  17. ^ Meschino, Patricia (21 September 2016). "Ten Years in the Making: Could Machel Montano's 'Bazodee' Be Soca's 'Purple Rain'?". Billboard. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  18. ^ "MUSIC AND PASSION COLLIDE when BAZODEE hits Caribbean theatres: 5th AUGUST 2016!". The Bajan Reporter. 31 July 2016. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  19. ^ "Machel Montano Premieres "Pop Ah Bottle" And Talks Winning At The Soul Train Awards". The FADER. 4 November 2014. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  20. ^ Dowrich-Phillips, Laura (16 November 2018). "Machel Montano gets his doctorate | Loop Trinidad & Tobago". loopnews.com. Loop News. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  21. ^ "Machel grateful for national award, hopes it inspires others | Loop Trinidad & Tobago". Loop News. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  22. ^ "Machel Montano graduates with MA in Carnival Studies | Loop Trinidad & Tobago". Loop News. 30 October 2024. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  23. ^ "Valentine's Day wedding for Machel and Renee". guardian.co.tt. Trinidad Guardian. 15 February 2020.
  24. ^ Kenna, Rashanda Mc. (3 March 2012). "Montano, in tune with God, self and life". guardian.co.tt. Trinidad Guardian. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
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See also

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