Machel Jesus Montano November, 24 1974, Carenage, Trinidad and Tobago
When Montano was very young, his family moved from Carenage (Northwestern Trinidad) to Siparia (Southwestern Trinidad). He attended Siparia Boys R.C., then Presentation College, a prestigious secondary school in San Fernando, where he was in the choir directed by Cynthia Lee-Mack. While he was still in primary school, Machel’s first shot at fame came with the song “Too Young To Soca.” With his older brother Marcus and neighbours, Machel formed Panasonic Express in 1984, which became Xtatik in 1989. As an 11-year-old, Montano appeared on the mainstream television show Star Search in April 1986. His song “Dream Girl” placed second at the Trinidad and Tobago National Song Writers Festival in 1987. In Barbados, he became the first Trinidadian and youngest contestant to win the Caribbean Song Festival. The HD Family is a soca band led by Montano. He was the youngest finalist to win the Caribbean Song Festival in 1987. He has had sold-out concerts at Madison Square Garden many times over the course of his career, which spans more than 30 years. Machel has six-time enternational Soca Monarch six times.