MACHEL MONTANO MOURNS THE KING OF POP

MACHEL MONTANO June 26, 2009 [IN HIS OWN WORDS] Condolences to the King’s family, friends and fans as we all mourn together! Michael Jackson will be missed but never forgotten.

Even in death he was able to unite people of all creeds and colors and make them happy; he is the greatest entertainer that ever lived.

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Machel, Shurwayne for Soca in B-Square

When the T&T Police Band stopped performing calypsoes at lunch time in Woodford Square, Port-of-Spain, the People’s University fell silent at Carnival. For several years the public was deprived of the opportunity to hear the season’s most popular songs performed by calypso and soca icons. Then, four years ago, the idea of free lunchtime concerts was dusted off by TSTT and Soca in B-Square was born.Now, for one week during every Carnival season, Woodford Square is transformed into Soca Central and thousands of fans from every corner of the capital and the country, make the daily pilgrimage to converge upon the historic bandstand. Machel Montano, Shurwayne Winchester, KMC, Bunji Garlin and Roy Cape will headline a cast of more than 15 leading artistes who will grace the square from next Monday for the fourth annual Soca in B-Square. “Soca in B-Square is a gift from b-mobile to the people of Trinidad and Tobago and visitors as one of our ways of saying “thanks” for the support we continue to receive throughout the year,” said Camille Salandy, head of public relations and external affairs at TSTT. Salandy noted that Soca in B-Square had grown bigger and better every year. “There are quite a few surprises in store for the public, who we know, look forward to attending the free lunchtime events.” Salandy stated that having created such a hugely successful event, TSTT would do its part to ensure that the legacy of presenting high-quality local music was carried on and as such, the TSTT Foundation will award $50,000 to five youth music programmes. She added: “The 2009 Soca in B-Square will be more than great entertainment; it will also pay homage to the role music and culture is playing in giving young people a greater sense of purpose.” Source: The Guadian

Montano aims to take soca music into mainstream

On a recent subway ride from Brooklyn to Manhattan, soca phenomenon Machel Montano was jolted from the anonymity he enjoys in some areas of New York when a female passenger shouted in a thick Trinidadian accent, “Machel Montano’s on this train!,” prompting many strap- hangers to hurriedly take out their camera phones.

That Montano, the most in-demand musical export from the oil-rich southern Caribbean republic of Trinidad and Tobago — where soca originated — can anonymously ride a train for several stops and then suddenly be swarmed by adoring fans reflects the dichotomy of his musical stature.

Soca, which provides the soundtrack for Caribbean carnivals, is the frenetically paced progeny of calypso. Created in Trinidad in the mid-’70s, soca has attained very limited success beyond Caribbean shores. Arrow’s durable “Hot Hot Hot” continues to be licensed for new compilations, 20 years after Buster Poindexter’s cover version rendered it an American pop hit. In 2000, the Baha Men transformed Anslem Douglas’ Trinidad carnival hit “Who Let the Dogs Out” into an American sports stadium anthem, and four years later Rupee and Kevin Lyttle cracked the Billboard Hot 100 with their respective hits “Tempted to Touch” and “Turn Me On.”

But these individual triumphs do not constitute broad-based recognition for soca. If the genre does break in the mainstream, Montano’s persistently innovative efforts will undoubtedly have played a pivotal role.

A former child star, he made history in 1986 as the youngest finalist in Trinidad Carnival’s Calypso Monarch competition, performing the aptly titled “Too Young to Soca.” In the mid-’90s with his band Xtatik, Montano embarked on a mission to modernize soca, subtly injecting the music with hip-hop beats and dancehall rhythms, which resulted in a steady release of fervently received carnival anthems and Montano’s ascension to regional superstar status.

Now, via collaborations with Pitbull and Lil Jon and two high-profile New York shows, the artist is hoping to position himself closer to an international breakthrough.

HIGH-PROFILE PROJECTS

On one hand Montano, who headlines New York’s S.O.B.’s August 28 and Cipriani’s two nights later, is in rarefied company, having sold out concerts at Madison Square Garden’s WaMu Theater in 2007 and 2008. On the other, he has yet to make an impact in the mainstream despite high-profile collaborations with Wyclef Jean (”Carnival Survivors”), Busta Rhymes (”Let Me See”) and Shaggy, who joins Montano on a remix of the title track from Montano’s current album, “Wining Season.”

Recently, Montano’s single “Defense the Anthem,” a soca-dancehall remix of Pitbull’s “The Anthem,” featuring Lil Jon, has received airplay on Miami’s WEDR (99 Jamz) and New York’s WQHT (Hot 97).

“Because soca artists are viewed as a subculture, we look for help from people who have made it in the mainstream,” Montano said after an exhilarating two-hour performance on the eastern Caribbean island of Barbados as part of its annual Cropover festivities. “Soca has great potential, so I asked Lil Jon and Pitbull to help us and they have responded enthusiastically.”

Montano has chosen to strengthen his ties to his Caribbean fan base while refining his crossover strategies. Refusing numerous offers to perform at summer Caribbean carnivals throughout North America, including Toronto’s Caribana, he spent almost three weeks at Barbados’ Cropover, which parallels Trinidad’s Carnival as that island’s primary season for new releases from Barbadian calypso and soca artists. Montano was the star attraction at Cropover’s largest concert, Cohobblopot, on August 3, for which he recruited Pitbull and Lil Jon.

He went on to sign international deals with Delicious Vinyl and Atlantic and recorded albums for both companies, which remain unreleased. Despite a heavy touring schedule that can include three shows per night during Trinidad’s pre-Lenten carnival season, Montano annually releases a full-length CD of original music on his Mad Bull Music label.

Whether or not he achieves his desired international breakthrough, Montano’s ongoing efforts to establish soca as a global cultural force raise the bar for the genre. “Bob Marley helped propel reggae, and I think I have done that for soca,” he said. “I gather people together, let them have a good time, and I feel good about that. While it’s a goal to conquer the mainstream, I just try to stay focused on improving every day.”

Reuters/Billboard

Montano & Bmobile Envy

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Machel Montano at the bMobile all-inclusive party eNvy - photo by bajanfuhlife.com

Patrons who missed the spectacular all- inclusive party were probably green – with Envy after hearing what they missed.

The six hour extravaganza featured performances from Soca superstar Machel Montano HD, Patrice Roberts, Krosfyah and others, and was attended by hundreds of patrons who paid at least $200 for a one of a kind experience.

With drinks on tap all night patrons were also treated to an assortment of food all night, special eNvy Cocktails and an assortment of other goodies. Prime Minister David Thompson, his wife Mara, Former West Indies cricket Captain Brian Lara, numerous government ministers, merchants, business people, artistes and teenagers mingled under the trees of the car park next to Illaro Court.

Click Above image to view gallery

However, in the end it was the music that drew them and the performers did not disappoint. From the fiery start of Krosfyah who took their guests on a journey through their 17 year career to Natahlee whose popular Sun Til Sun had the crowd moving the people were there to party.

However, whereas the earlier performers got nothing but love when Machel Montano, flanked by fellow Trini entertainers Patrice Roberts, Zan and Farmer Nappy hit the stage it was nothing but frenzied adoration from the crowd who jumped, “juked” and wined to every song delivered.

Giving over an hour show of complete energetic glamorous Montano promised that he had more planned for his performance this weekend at the “Red Hot Cohobblopot,” Meanwhile eNvy is planned to be an annual event with many of the proceeds from this year to be donated to various charities.