April 10, 2008 – Trinidad Road March King Machel Montano is wining his way to Reichhold Center for the Arts for the j'ouvert warm-up jam taking place at 10 p.m., Wednesday, April 23. Soca queen Patrice Roberts, The Bouncers Band, and the Virgin Islands' own Jam Tyme will also be on hand to rock the crowd.
Montano brings fresh music and his HD Tour to the Reichhold Center. The tour sold out two straight nights at Madison Square Garden last year, celebrating Montano's 25 years of making sweet soca music
"Wining Season" is Montano's much-anticipated contribution to Trinidad Carnival 2008. The hit song comes on the heels of 2007's successful "One More Time" and "Jumbie." Roberts also has two singles out, "Sugar Boy" and "Assume the Position." The soca royals teamed up for 2006's Road March title "Band of the Year." Their winning combination also produced 2007's crowd favorite "Light It Up" and 2008's "Rollin."
Jam Tyme's contribution to Carnival 2008 includes "Champions" and "Jammin' on the Road." The Bouncers Band is going for crowd participation with "Skip n Dip."
Montano and his Xtatik band have become the most sought after performers of soca music in the Caribbean and the United States, drawing sell-out crowds at major venues.
In addition to his powerful vocals, Montano has established himself as a talented songwriter, producer and bandleader. He began his career in 1982 at seven years old, singing the hit "Too Young To Soca." In 1984, he formed his band Pranasonic Express, now called Xtatik, performing in New York City's Madison Square Garden. His career continued to soar, as he appeared on the television talent show "Star Search." The pint-size soca wonder became the first Trinidadian and youngest entertainer to win the Caribbean Song Festival in 1987. Montano also won the Young Kings Competition during Miami Carnival 1994.
Just one year later in 1995, Montano and Xtatik traveled to London and played to sold out crowds. In 1997, Montano became the youngest Road March King of Trinidad and Tobago, and Xtatik's album "Heavy Duty" went on to become one of the best-selling soca albums of all time.
To date, Montano and Xtatik have produced 19 albums. The group has performed with numerous international stars, including Third World, Destiny's Child, Buju Banton, Ziggy Marley, Freddie Jackson, TLC, Shabba Ranks and others. Some of their hits include "Take Me Back," "Footsteps," "Big Truck," and "Toro, Toro."
Montano has won many awards that include: Best Soca Album, Best Soca group, Best Music Video, Album of the Year and Producer of the Year.
General Admission to Reichhold Center's "J'Ouvert Warm-Up Jam" is $35 in advance, and more at the door. On St. Croix, tickets are available at Urban Threadz; on St. Thomas, tickets are available at Modern Music, UVI Bookstore, V.I. Bridal & Tuxedo, Urban Threadz, Home Again (Red Hook) and the Reichhold Center Box Office at 693-1559.
