He is the frontman of the immensely popular soca band Xtatik, and is noted for his high energy, fast-paced, and often unpredictable on-stage performances. During his his career, which spans over 25 years, he has recorded several songs alongside many of Caribbean music's most popular acts, such as Alison Hinds, Beenie Man, Calypso Rose, Burning Flames, Drupatee, Red Rat, Shaggy, Sparrow, Denise Belfon, Destra, Wyclef Jean, Vybz Kartel, M.O.P., Black Stalin, Mr. Vegas, Doug E Fresh and many others. He now stands as the most sought after Soca act in the World.

The band developed and was re-invented by leader Machel several times as Xtatik 5.0, The Xtatik Circus, Xtatik The Road Marching Band, The Band of the Year and many others. Every year Machel has a new concept to keep his band and his performances fresh. This year, 2007 they are known as Machel Montano HD (High Definition) and he promotes the concept by saying that he is the first human being to go HD. He claims this is a representation of the the evolution of his music over the last 25 years and highly improved style in which his music shall be presented to his fans over radio formats, television, and during live performances.. He is part of the huge campaign in Trinidad and Tobago promoting safe driving - Arrive Alive. Part of the hype surrounding the ever-evolving Machel this year is his HD tour bus, a 20 year old bus from the Public Transport Service Corporation was re-done and includes a bedroom, bathroom facilities, flat screen TVs, inernet access and expansive audio systems.

Montano was also instrumental in the promotion of Soca music in the UK on the BBC's black music digital radio station 1Xtra, where he co-presented the International Sounds of Soca show for four years with DJ Slic. He has released many successful singles, with and without Xtatik, during his career, such as "Big Truck" (Xtatik's most successful single, which won the Road March title in 1997), "Outa Space" (with Beenie Man), "Music Farm" (Xtatik), "It's Carnival" (with Destra), and his most recent back to back Road March title wins for 2006, "Band Of The Year" (with Patrice Roberts) and 2007, "Jumbie".

Machel Montano - "Not To Young To Soca"

After the juvenile success of "Too Young To Soca", Machel spent the next few years developing his musical identity. From 1991 onward, Machel and his band Xtatik, were "on a hectic mission" to modernize Calypso; they created a Soca-Dancehall fusion emphasizing deep basslines and danceable grooves which eventually gained favor among young people throughout the Caribbean. "Before that, we would open for big acts like Buju Banton and MC Hammer when they came to Trinidad," explains Machel, "and we would play Soca and get pelted with oranges, bottles and papers, just because we were doing the music of our country. For some reason young people couldn't relate to anything local; Soca at the time was never rough, never about reality so I started adding slang and making it hip, and we started producing our own music. Over the years, we've seen a big change in the crowd's attitudes."

Machel graduated with honors from Ohio's School of Recording Arts in 1993; his fascination with recording studio technology precipitated the idea for "Come Dig it", a Soca-House fusion, highlighting the pulsation rhythmic similarities of both genres. Machel produced the song in his own 8 track studio in 1995 and he considers it his best production up to that point but he decided not to include "Come Dig It" on Xtatik's 1996 Carnival album; instead, Machel took a tape of the song with him to America and it was given to the A & R department of the Los Angeles based Delicious Vinyl label. The label reps attended an Xtatik concert and after experiencing the band's musical dynamism, youthful exuberance and ability to drive female fans into a frenzy, Machel and Xtatik were offered a contract with the company. Delicious Vinyl released "Come Dig It" accompanied by a video filmed at Brooklyn's West Indian Day carnival and the song generated great excitement and rave reviews.

Machel is a young Trinidadian who is edging his name among the famous in the Entertainment Industry. He began his career in 1982 at the age seven. As early as 1984, he formed his band Pranasonic Express now called XTATIK. Many of the band’s foundation members are still with the group. Machel’s Debut album Too Young To Soca, released in 1985, and was an instant hit which earned him many rave review and standing ovations wherever he performed.

In 1986, he appeared on Star Search in Hollywood bringing Soca Music to the screens of US National Television. He was described as a Stevie Wonder of Soca. Machel and XTATIK have performed with many popular International Entertainment personalities including: Freddie Jackson, TLC, The Boys, Kris Kross, Buju Banton, Ziggy Marley, the late Garnet Silk, Shabba Ranks, Bounty Killa, Shaggy, Beenie Man, Spragga Benz, Red Rat and many others.

In 1987, at the age of twelve, Machel became the first Trinidadian and youngest Entertainer to win the Caribbean Song Festival. In 1991 at sixteen, he won Young Kings Competition. XTATIK won best playing music band on the road for CARIBANA 94 and MIAMI CARNIVAL 94. In 1995 Machel won Party Vocalist and in 1996 XTATIK won Party band of the Year.

In 1997 Machel become the youngest ROAD MARCH KING of Trinidad & Tobago. Machel's hit "Big Truck", the most popular song at Trinidad's 1997 Carnival, earned him the coveted Road March title and he produced 1998's Road March winner "Footsteps". Machel's greatest challenge remains to establish Soca as an internationally embraced dance music.

www.machelmontano.com