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Machel Montano is not only one of the Caribbean's youngest performers, but one of its most successful. With his unique blend of soca and dancehall, and sensual stage persona, Montano has risen to the upper echelon of Caribbean music. The first Trinidadian and the youngest performer to win the Caribbean song festival (in 1987), he's gone on to... [+] Read More

Machel Montano is not only one of the Caribbean's youngest performers, but one of its most successful. With his unique blend of soca and dancehall, and sensual stage persona, Montano has risen to the upper echelon of Caribbean music. The first Trinidadian and the youngest performer to win the Caribbean song festival (in 1987), he's gone on to win the Young Kings Competition in 1991, the Party Vocalist Competition in 1995, and the Road March King Competition of Trinidad and Tobago in 1997. His band, Xtatik, won the Party Band Competition in 1996. According to Metro Connections, Montano "successfully crosses boundaries between young and old, between Jamaica and Trinidad and between soca and dancehall."

Montana's talent has been obvious since childhood. Impressing his parents with his singing with the accompaniment of his brother on guitar, he was sent for vocal lessons. At the age of nine, he was chosen to represent the music school at the Junior Calypso Monarch Contest. Forming his band, ranasonic Express, later renamed tatik, in 1984, he released his debut album, Too Young To Soca, two years later. He was heard by North American audiences for the first time when he performed the title track on television show, Star Search in 1987. Montano's hits include "Take Me Back," "By All Means," "Take Ah Borrow," "Music Farm," "Big Truck," "Footsteps," and "Toro Toro." His album Outa Space (UFOs) featured the vocals of Jamaican vocalist Beenie Man. ~ Craig Harris, All Music Guide [-] Hide

From Montserrat, Arrow got his start as a first-class calypsonian in the traditional Trinidadian style but soon began exploring ways to bring the music to an international level. Always an innovator, he played around with mixing elements of cadence, salsa, and American R&R guitar into his music. In 1983 he experienced his first pan-Caribbean... [+] Read More

From Montserrat, Arrow got his start as a first-class calypsonian in the traditional Trinidadian style but soon began exploring ways to bring the music to an international level. Always an innovator, he played around with mixing elements of cadence, salsa, and American R&R guitar into his music. In 1983 he experienced his first pan-Caribbean success, "Hot Hot Hot" (a song that later became an international hit). Since then he has branched out to include a wider array of world-music elements, from hip-hop to the sounds of various African nations, while concentrating on lyrics that act predominantly as a vehicle to drive the music to a higher frenzy. A late-'80s contract with Island/Mango Records has made him the soca artist most widely distributed and most easily available in the States. His 1992 release, Zombie Soca, was notable for including three songs with social commentary lyrics. Unlike those of most calypsonians, Arrow's early releases, including those preceding the Island/Mango albums, are still easily available. ~ Gene Scaramuzzo, All Music Guide [-] Hide

Arrow's latest exploration of Caribbean rhythms includes an excursion to Guadaloupe entitled "Zouk Me." ~ J. Poet, All Music Guide

Arrow's latest exploration of Caribbean rhythms includes an excursion to Guadaloupe entitled "Zouk Me." ~ J. Poet, All Music Guide [-] Hide

As part of soca music's young vanguard, Machel Montano has helped change the sound of a genre that has basically remained unchanged for the last 40 years. By adding dancehall influences along with a hip and sophisticated sensibility, this young singer has rejuvenated soca, prompting the music which was once regulated to Carnival time, to be... [+] Read More

As part of soca music's young vanguard, Machel Montano has helped change the sound of a genre that has basically remained unchanged for the last 40 years. By adding dancehall influences along with a hip and sophisticated sensibility, this young singer has rejuvenated soca, prompting the music which was once regulated to Carnival time, to be played all year round in his native Trinidad. Montano's innovation is in abundant display on Any Minute Now. He offers a brillant remake of U2's hit, "With Or Without You," toasts in French on "Mocking Meh" and borrows from the pop classic, "Grazing in the Grass," for the relaxed "February." Although the dancehall overtones are slightly tedious at times, this album definitely qualifies as a soca stand-out. ~ Rosalind Cummings-Yeates, All Music Guide [-] Hide

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