Soca King Machel Montano Sunday evening proved that he cannot solely dominate soca but in addition calypso after he was topped the 2024 Trinidad and Tobago Calypso Monarch for “Soul of Calypso” on the Queens Park Savannah in Port-of-Spain, the Trinidad and Tobago capital. Acting at place no. 3, Montano, 49, eclipsed defending monarch Duane Ta’Zayah O’Connor and 10 different contenders on his method to snatching the coveted crown.
He, thus, grew to become the primary artist to seize the Younger Kings, Highway March, Soca and Calypso Monarch in Trinidad and Tobago carnival.
By profitable the calypso crown Sunday evening, Montano, a 10-time Highway March King, took house $500,000 and a $350,000 Suzuki motorized vehicle.
Different rivals within the Dimanche Present Sunday evening have been: Former Calypso Monarchs Karene Asche and Roderick “Chuck” Gordon, who positioned second and third, respectively; Mical Teja, fourth; Helon Francis, fifth; Stacey Sobers, sixth; Aaron Duncan, seventh; Kurt Allen, eight; Duane Ta’Zayah O’Connor, ninth; Winston “Gypsy” Peters, 10th; Brian London, 11th; and Dillon “Dilly Suede” Thomas, 12th.
Montano, the six-time Soca Monarch, stated he’ll defend the Calypso Monarch in 2025.
“Should you win a title, then you will need to defend it,” he instructed reporters after receiving the coveted prizes.
Earlier than performing on the Diva Calypso Cabaret, on Jan. 25, on the Little Carib Theater in Port-of-Spain, Montano famous on social media that “calypso is the place I began, and I felt an actual pleasure composing and creating this one (‘Soul of Calypso’), as I assumed concerning the roots of soca and the entire evolving types of our music that proceed to move from the kaiso fountain.
“Calypso began with Kalinda and Cariso again within the Barrack yards and has advanced to be recognized across the globe,” he stated. “I’m excited to maintain exploring and attempting my hand at penning extra kaisos like this. Keep tuned.”
In his biography, “The Making of Monk Monté,” Montano, who was born on born Nov. 24, 1974 in Port-of-Spain, stated he was “destined to be nice.”
“By his ever-evolving musical choices, Machel works on his mission of depositing soca into the area of mainstream music,” says the biography, stating that Montano’s profession started in 1982 at 11; and, at 9, he shaped his band, Pranasonic Categorical.
The biography says that Montano’s debut album, “Too Younger To Soca,” launched in 1985, was “an immediate hit, which earned rave critiques and standing ovations at dwell performances.”
In April of 1986, the biography says the younger performer appeared on the favored tv present, Star Search, bringing soca music to US nationwide tv.
The following yr, it says Montano captured 2nd place within the Trinidad & Tobago Nationwide Track Author’s Pageant along with his track, “Dream Woman.”
In 1987, at 12, Montano was the winner of the Caribbean Track Pageant that was held in Barbados. He was the primary Trinidadian and youngest to ever win this prestigious contest.
The biography says one in every of Montano’s earliest and best achievements was his Could, 1984 look at Madison Sq. Backyard, in The Felt Discussion board. in New York Metropolis at 9. He was billed as a help act for the Mighty Sparrow and different high calypsonians.
On the seventh Annual Copyright Group of Trinidad & Tobago (COTT) Awards, the biography says Montano obtained the awards for Track Author of the 12 months 2004/2005 and Track of the 12 months 2004/2005 for “Madder Than That.”
Additionally in 2005, he attended the third Annual Worldwide Soca Awards in Trinidad and Tobago, receiving awards for: Male Soca Performer of the 12 months, Soca Track Author of the 12 months, General Male Soca Performer of the 12 months, Soca Artiste Album/CD of the 12 months for “The Xtatik Expertise,” General Soca Band of the 12 months; and Soca Video of the 12 months for “You.”
In 2008, the biography says Montano was awarded the Bob Marley Award Entertainer of the 12 months 2007, Finest Calypso/Soca entertainer 2007, and named the Most Excellent Stage Character on the Worldwide Reggae and World Music Awards (IRAWMA) on the historic Apollo Theatre in Harlem.
In that yr, Montano additionally obtained an award on the 1st Annual BET J Digital Awards for Finest Caribbean Artiste of the 12 months. Different awards have been bestowed on Montano in 2008 on the Soca Information Awards in the UK, the biography says.
In January 2010, it says Montano grew to become the primary soca artiste to achieve a headlining slot on the Jamaica Jazz and Blues Pageant.
On the 2010 Highway March Competitors, Montano positioned third with “No Behaviour”. On Could 2, 2010, he made historical past as the one two-time recipient (2008) of The Bob Marley Award for Entertainer of the 12 months at Martins Worldwide Reggae and World Music Awards (IRAWMA) in Queens.
After returning to Trinidad and Tobago Carnival in 2011, after being absent in 2010, the biography says Montano captured the Energy Soca Monarch Champion 2k11 and the worth for finest presentation.
The biography says the climax was his victory within the Highway March, with “Benefit” being essentially the most performed track to cross the stage on Carnival Monday and Tuesday.
In Could 2011, on the thirtieth Anniversary of IRAWMA, in Port-of-Spain, Montano secured six awards: Most Excellent Stage Character, Finest Male Calypso/Soca Entertainer, Finest Caribbean Entertainer, Most Excellent Present Band, Finest Soca Band and The King of Soca Award.
In October 2011, the biography says Montano was nominated within the “Finest Caribbean Efficiency” class for the track “Bend Over” on the 2011 Soul Practice Awards. Different nominees included Rihanna, Vybz Kartel, Movado and Kes.
In February 2012, the biography says Montano grew to become a “Triple Crown Winner.” On the Tremendous Purple 20 Worldwide Soca Monarch, he gained the Groovy Soca Title with the Anthemic “Mr Fete.” Later that evening, he went on to dominate the Worldwide Energy Soca Monarch along with his high-energy energy hit “Pump Yuh Flag.” On Carnival Monday and Tuesday 2012, “Pump Yuh Flag” was essentially the most performed track on the street (233 occasions), incomes him “Highway March glory,” the biography says.
In 2013, Montano was nominated as soon as once more for a Soul Practice Awards within the class of Finest Worldwide Efficiency for his hit “The Fog”. He was additionally nominated within the first-round poll of the 56th GRAMMY Awards in two classes.
His 2013 album, “Machelements,” was nominated within the World Music Class for Finest Album, and his two movies “Possessed” and “Signify” have been nominated briefly file video class, the biography says.
“Carnival 2014 introduced Machel Montano continued success having gained the coveted Energy Soca Monarch title for a fourth time in a row with the hit ‘Ministry of Highway’, making him the one artiste to have ever carried out so,” the biography says.
It says Montano additionally went on to position 2nd within the Groovy Soca Monarch class with “Happiest Man Alive”, and additional proceeded to “take ‘Ministry of Highway’ all the way in which to Highway March supremacy.”
Throughout the historic, inaugural Caribbean Music Awards, at Brooklyn’s Kings Theater, in August 2023, Montano obtained the Lifetime Achievement Award – together with Jamaican reggae crooner Beres Hammond – for his distinctive contribution to the soca/calypso artform.
