Machel Montano is the biggest name in soca. Performing since 1982, he holds a record 12 Trinidad and Tobago Road March titles, the latest with “Encore” in 2026, and has taken Carnival music to stages around the world with hits like “Like Ah Boss”, “Toro Toro” and “One Wine”.
At a glance
| Known as | Machel Montano |
|---|---|
| From | Trinidad and Tobago |
| Known for | Record 12 Road March titles; “Like Ah Boss”, “Big Truck”, “Encore” |
| Genre | Soca, calypso |
| Active since | 1982 |
| Label | Monk Music |
| Notable work & awards | 12 Road March titles, including “Big Truck” (1997), “Band Of The Year” (2006), “Jumbie” (2007), “Pardy” (2025) and “Encore” (2026); six-time International Soca Monarch; Calypso Monarch (2024); Soul Train Award, Best International Performance (2014); Hummingbird Medal (Gold), 2022 |
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Story
Machel Montano began performing as a child in 1982 and went on to front the band Xtatik, with whom he won the 1997 Road March with “Big Truck”. Over the following decades he became soca’s leading international ambassador, releasing music on his own label, Monk Music.
He won further Road March titles with songs including “Band Of The Year” (2006) and “Jumbie” (2007), and his 2015 anthem “Like Ah Boss” became one of the best-known soca songs of its era. Collaborations such as “Toro Toro” with Shaggy and “One Wine” with Sean Paul and Major Lazer took his sound to new audiences.
His honours include six International Soca Monarch titles, the 2024 Calypso Monarch crown, a 2014 Soul Train Award for “Ministry of Road”, an honorary doctorate from the University of Trinidad and Tobago (2018) and the Hummingbird Medal (Gold) in 2022.
In 2025 he took his 11th Road March with “Pardy”. His album “Encore”, launched in February 2026 with collaborators including Skinny Fabulous, Wusswayz and Super Blue, gave him a record 12th Road March with its title track. He has since taken the “Encore” show on the road, including a 2026 concert in Jamaica, and the documentary “Like Ah Boss: Journey of a Soca King” tells his story.
Latest videos
Machel Montano’s newest uploads, straight from his official YouTube channel:
Signature videos
Related on Harpy Express
Last updated November 2026. Sources: Wikipedia, Trinidad Guardian (12th Road March), Trinidad Express (11th Road March), Trinidad Guardian (“Encore” album), Jamaica Gleaner (2026), machelmontano.com.