Pellau Magazine: Machel Montano He’s a winner

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Before we go running off to thank “Ma” Liz Montano (and dad, too, of course) for the gift of their son to the world of calypso and soca, and to T&T, one might want to reflect on who the “dey” might have been in the refrain “dey say ah too young to soca” when 11-year-old Machel Montano made it to the big stage at the Dimanche Gras finals at the Queen’s Park Savannah in 1986. Who knows, maybe we need to thank them too for having subconsciously spurred on the Montano that the world has come to know today! Born November 24, 1974, in Carenage, his early years were spent between Carenage, Jamaica (while his parents were at UWI there), back to Carenage, and then to Siparia where both mom and dad worked—she as a guidance counsellor and he as a petroleum geologist. Machel’s career began in 1982 at age seven, and at age nine he formed his band, Pranasonic Express. His debut album Too Young To Soca, released in 1985, was an instant hit which earned rave reviews and standing ovations at live performances. In April of 1986, the young performer appeared on the popular television show, Star Search, bringing soca music to US national television. The next year, Machel took second place in the T&T National Songwriter’s Festival with his song, Dream Girl. In 1987, at the age of 12, he was the winner of the Caribbean Song Festival in Barbados. He was the first Trinidadian and youngest to win this prestigious contest. One of Machel’s earliest and greatest achievements was his May 1984, appearance at Madison Square Garden in The Felt Forum in New York City at age nine. He was billed as a support act for the Mighty Sparrow and other top calypsonians.

In 2005, at the third Annual International Soca Awards held in Trinidad he copped the awards for: Male Soca Performer of the Year, Soca Songwriter of the Year, Overall Male Soca Performer of the Year, Soca Artiste Album/CD of the Year for The Xtatik Experience, Overall Soca Band of the Year; and Soca Video of the Year for You. In 2008, he was awarded the Bob Marley Award Entertainer of the Year 2007, Best Calypso/Soca entertainer 2007, and named the Most Outstanding Stage Personality at the International Reggae and World Music Awards (IRAWMA) at the historic Apollo Theatre in New York. That year also found Machel receiving an award at the first Annual BET J Virtual Awards for Best Caribbean Artiste of the Year. Other awards were bestowed upon Machel in 2008 at the Soca News Awards in the UK. In 2009, he released his album, Heavenly Drum. Some of the more popular songs were premiered at the Trinidad and Tobago Carnival which included the rollicking rhythms of Push Bumpers, Block to Block, and Won’t Stop was featured in the June/July issues of Vibe Magazine. In January 2010, Machel became the first soca artiste to attain a headlining slot at the Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival. At the 2010 Road March Competition, Machel placed third with the song No Behaviour. On May 2, 2010, he made history as the only two-time recipient (2008) of The Bob Marley Award for Entertainer of the Year at Martins International Reggae and World Music Awards (IRAWMA) held in Queens, New York. In May, 2010, Machel, as special guest artiste for the US shows, embarked on a five-week tour with Pitbull on his Mr Worldwide Carnival tour.

Machel is constantly working toward his mission of successfully ushering soca into the realm of mainstream music. It is his dream to see soca being enjoyed in the international market. Moreover, due to soca’s crossover appeal, Machel states: “We want to use our experience to take soca international,” he says. “…I have been pushing the envelope, trying to revolutionise soca, trying to improve its quality. It is very difficult to bring this music to the mainstream and at the same time stay grounded at home but we have created a sound that we believe is palatable to all markets and can play on the radio in rotation with other popular songs and genres. That is a dream I have always had and something I look forward to achieving.” Machel returned to Trinidad and Tobago Carnival in 2011 after being absent in 2010. His return to the competition was spectacular where he emerged the Power Soca Monarch Champion 2k11 and also captured the prize for best presentation. The climax was his victory in the Road March. His song Advantage was the most played song to cross the stage for Carnival. On the heels of Carnival he returned to Madison Square Garden in March 2011, to another sold-out event. His 35th album The Return contains 12 tracks with hits like Bend Over, So High A O A, Advantage, Hard Wuk and many more. In May 2011, at the 30th anniversary of IRAWMA, held in Port-of-Spain, Machel secured six awards: Most Outstanding Stage Personality, Best Male Calypso/ Soca Entertainer, Best Caribbean Entertainer, Most Outstanding Show Band, Best Soca Band and The King of Soca Award. In October 2011, he was nominated in the “Best Caribbean Performance” category for the song Bend Over at the 2011 Soul Train Awards. Other nominees included Rihanna, Vybz Kartel, Movado and Kees. In February 2012, he became a triple crown winner. At the Super Red 20 International Soca Monarch he won the Groovy Soca title with the anthemic Mr Fete. Later that night he went on to dominate the International Power Soca Monarch with his high-energy power hit Pump Yuh Flag. On Carnival Monday and Tuesday 2012 Pump Yuh Flag, which was the most played song on the road (233 times), earned him Road March glory once again. The Sunday Guardian caught up with a very busy Montano. Our thanks to Mom Liz for orchestrating it all.

Congratulations on all of your victories for Carnival 2012. Would you consider entering the Calypso Monarch competition…going for four titles?

Thank you. Yes, I have thought about going to the calypso competition not to get four titles but to bring some new energy to the tradition.

What inspires you to do what you do?

I get my inspiration from God, the world he created and the purpose I believe in.

Who were the people who have influenced you the most (outside of your family), in your career and in life in general and how did they? Was Machel “discovered?”

My music teacher Ashford Joseph found the source, and I saw SuperBlue and that gave me the entry point. Michael Jackson and the Bee Gees were also a big part.

What advice would you give to anyone contemplating a vocation such as yours?

What you put in is what you will get out! Work hard and make sure that what you do gives people joy.

What is your favourite thing about Carnival?

I really enjoy being on the road on Monday and Tuesday.

Of all your performances which would you like a first time audience to experience?

Hmmm…that will have to be at Madison Square Garden in 2007 which was called “Rezzarek.”

Where were you born and where did you grow up?

I was born in Carenage but grew up in Siparia.

At which schools/institutions did you receive your education?

Siparia Boys’ RC and Presentation College, San Fernando.

What job did you hold on a full-time basis before becoming an entertainer?

I was a sound engineer at the Engine Room Recording Studio in Maraval.

What was the most difficult decision you ever had to make?

I have had quite a few, but nothing I could not handle.

What is an interesting facet of your personality that most people do not know about you?

That would have to be my spirituality and how passionate I am about it.

What else would you be if you weren’t an entertainer?

I would have been a lawyer or a spiritual healer (laughing).

Who was your hero growing up (fictional or real or both) and why?

I loved Michael Jackson and Spiderman, maybe for their uniforms but mostly for the magic they brought.

In three words, your recipe for success?

Live, love, laugh!

When and how did you get into entertaining?

Through the encouragement of my brother Marcus and my mother, my then music teacher!

Of all your accolades, accomplishments, prizes and awards, which do you rate as extremely special?

Well, the triple crown this year is very significant, winning the Caribbean Song Festival was also a big one in 1987 at such a young age, and being able to sell out Madison Square Garden twice in one night was a special achievement.

What is your favourite pastime/hobby outside of entertaining?

I love hiking and cooking outdoors, rivers, beaches, the jungle and all the adventures nature has to offer.

How would you describe yourself in one word?

Passionate.

Who are your favourite entertainers of the past and present both in the calypso/soca arena and outside of it?

Bob Marley, Michael Jackson, Kitchener, Sparrow, SuperBlue, and I admire a lot of the soca entertainers of today.

What daily mottos or credos do you live by?

God grant me the serenity….you know that one, Let Go and Let God, This too shall pass.

What were your dreams of the future when you were a child?

To play to huge stadium shows with lots of people and lights.

Where do you see yourself in five to ten years?

Doing what I am doing now, but ten times better! (Big laugh).