Since 1984, Machel has been marketing soca around the world, performing
in Madison Square Garden, New York, and on Star Search in Hollywood
where he was described as a Stevie Wonder of soca.
Machel and Xtatik have performed with top entertainers such as Freddie
Jackson, TLC, Third World, Shaggy, Destiny’s Child, Buju Banton
and Ziggy Marley, among many others.
At the age of 12, this Sagittarian (November 24) became the first
TnT and youngest entertainer to win the Caribbean Song Festival.
At 16, he won the NACC Young Kings Competition and in 1997, he became
the youngest Road March King of Trinidad and Tobago.
Machel and Xtatik have produced 17 albums with seven mini albums
and 17 singles.
Some of their many hits include Take Me Back, Big Truck, Footsteps,
Toro Toro, Craziness, and You.
Machel has among his accomplishments honours from the Sunshine Awards
(New York); the Reggae/Soca Music Awards in Florida (where the Mayor
of City Hartford, Connecticut proclaimed May 29, 1999 -- Machel
Montano & Xtatik Day); Tamika Annual Reggae Awards (New York);
International Soca Awards; Videographer Awards (Texas); the Annual
Sao Awards; Trinbago Unified Calypsonian Organisation Award; and
COTT’s Annual Music Awards (TnT).
A graduate of Presentation College, San Fernando, with nine O’Levels,
he was ranked in the top six per cent of his class at the School
of Recording Arts, School of the Recording Workshop in Ohio, where
he pursued recording engineering.
In 2005, the United Nations selected Machel as the body’s
newest goodwill ambassador.
In a six point interview, COTT got an inside look with Machel:
Q: Who or what is the main influence for your
success?
A: My family and the Almighty.
Q: What do you consider your greatest achievement?
A: My longevity in the music business.
Q: What project(s) have you been working on?
A: A project called “X Change” which
was proposed by Derrick Lewis of Island People and myself to UNICEF
as a movement for bringing about positive change among people.
The project was piloted in Barbados, Belize, Grenada, Guyana,
Trinidad, Haiti and Jamaica.
This was the catalyst for my selection as a UN Ambassador.
Also, I am working on my 2006 album with a lot of surprises!
Q: What, in your experience, are the benefits
of being a COTT member?
A: I am recognised for my musical composi-tions
as a songwriter through the receipt of royalities.
As one of the youngest members of COTT, I am proud to be the recipient
of the most COTT Awards, six, in seven years of the COTT Music
Awards show history.
The submission of my playlists to COTT for my live performances
locally and internationally has worked for me as a songwriter
and a performer.
All these benefits have motivated me to perform mostly my compositions.
Q: Who is your most admired person?
A: My beloved mother.
Q: Is there anything you would like to tell
your peers in the music industry?
A: Work hard.
Focus.
Set your goals and understand your purpose.
