Here to Stay: Machel Montano, "The International Soca King"

By Monique Reuben

In the world of music, overnight sensations can easily become one-hit wonders. There is not one genre of music that is exempt from this possible fate. From bubble-gum pop artists and hip hoppers with mediocre flows, but unlimited swagger, to energetic reggae artists who can "wine it up," but still fall short of their predecessors, one-hit wonders were obviously never here to stay. As their catchy tunes die down and audiences become hyped to the next big thing, one-hit wonders fade into the background, never to be seen or heard from again. This is certainly not the case for singer, producer and songwriter, Machel Montano. Proclaimed by many as "the international soca king," Montano has been in the game for 26 years, consecutively releasing album after album with the next more innovative than the last. As we celebrate the spirit of Carnival with our annual Carnival issue at Island Vibes Magazine (IVM), we pay homage to one of the Caribbean's greatest entertainers.

Destined for Center Stage

Born in Carenage, North Trinidad on November 24, 1974, Montano moved with his family to Siparia, South Trinidad, where he attended Siparia Boys R.C., a primary school. At the age of five, his mother discovered he could sing and encouraged him to join the school choir and enter competitions. "By the age of nine, I performed at Madison Square Garden and received a standing ovation and that same year went to Paris with Lord Nelson and Designer. At first it started as a hobby but as the years went by it developed into a career," Montano explained to IVM. One of his first songs was "The Letter," an ode to students where he criticized corrupt teachers and empathized with students who were treated unfairly. This eventually led him to release his first LP, Too Young to Soca, in 1986, which featured "The Letter" and the title track, which catapulted him to fame at the ripe age of 12.

Wining it Up

Montano is known for his high energy performances, especially at Trinidad's Carnival, where he performs each year. "Carnival means the coming together of all our people to celebrate the greatest show on earth. It's an experience that words cannot describe," he says. "In the words of one of my foreign visitors this year, 'my life will never be the same again.'" No matter where he is performing, large crowds (especially female fans) seem to follow, singing and gyrating to his music. His sex appeal, charisma, memorable lyrics and high-adrenaline performance style make for an exciting concert experience. However, for this year's Carnival, the artist held his first children's musical, "Boy Boy and the Magic Drum," based on the book of the same name, which he wrote earlier this year, adding children's author to his resume.

The Business Man

To date Montano has released over 14 albums, with his latest in 2008, "The Winning Season." This album, his most innovative and successful yet brought smash hits like "Blazin D Trail" and "Defense (The Anthem) feat. Lil Jon and Pitbull. Always inclined to think outside the box, Montano isn't merely a musician. In addition to performing, he produces and arranges award-winning music, has his own production and publishing company and recording studio, and even has plans to produce films in the near future. These ventures come purely out of his desire to bring Caribbean entertainment to the mainstream.

Crossing Over

While soca music is gaining more and more popularity as an art-form worldwide, it is still not at the forefront of the music industry, unlike genres such as rock, hip hop, R&B or even reggae. Montano understands the reality of this and continues to reshape soca music and bring it to the mainstream. The biggest challenge for Montano as a crossover artist will be "getting support from the home base (Trinidad)," he reveals. Montano knows there is a fine line between keeping soca music authentic and incorporating popular genres of music to give it a wider appeal. However, he's hoping to make it work without alienating his fans in Trinidad. He's begun the process by taking Trinidad & Tobago's indigenous soca music and fusing it with reggae, reggaeton, dancehall and hip hop, which has lead to noteworthy collaborations with artists such as Beenie Man, Buju Banton, Burning Flames, Drupatee, Wyclef Jean, Canibus, Shaggy, Sparrow, Destra, G-Unit, Lil' Jon, Pitbull, Doug E. Fresh and Mr. Vegas, among others. Montano wants to revolutionize soca music and improve its quality. The star is already on the right track. In March 2007, he became the first soca artist to sell out two back-to-back shows at Madison Square Garden in New York City, solidifying his crossover appeal. "The experience was exhilarating. The fans poured out their love and moments of great joy embraced me," Montano says. At the age of 35 with a career full of musical accomplishments, Montano has the longevity of a king and is definitely here to stay.

For more information on Machel Montano, visit http://www.machelmontanohd.com/

(Monique Reuben is a contributor to Island Vibes Magazine and writes about Caribbean culture, entertainment, and social issues. For comments, please feel free to contact her at monique@islandvibesmag.com.)