Machel Montano pushes for musical federation

Trinidadian soca singer, record producer and songwriter Machel Montano is pushing for a musical federation for artistes within the Caribbean.

"I want to see Jamaican artistes and soca Trini artistes come together and push the musical federation. I want us to make the sound of the Caribbean," Montano told THE STAR on Sunday, while an official guest at the Grand Gala to celebrate Jamaica's 61st year of Independence.

He added, "It is already happening ... we are already influencing each other in a way that there is a mutual respect. I love collaborating with my Jamaican artistes, I love being inspired .... bringing them to Trinidad. And I think now we are receiving a love from them for soca music that has never been seen before. I have waited for this day and I am grateful to be alive to see it."

Noting that he has "worked hard for it", the King of Soca emphasised unity and the fact that Caribbean people are from the same roots.

We are not just Trinidadian, Trinigonian or Jamaican ... we are also Caribbean ... more than that, we are African. And we are a cosmic collaboration, so I think the sky and the universe is the limit. Let's spread love. As Bob Marley says, We are love, but let's be love."

Montano, who has 40 years in music, was given the Key to the City of Kingston at the Grand Gala. The Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation met last Friday and passed a resolution conferring the honour to Montano, "in recognition of his sterling, awesome and iconic career in music, which has positively influenced many adoring fans across the Caribbean and the world, including many Jamaicans who continue to enjoy his enduring legacy".

"I didn't expect this. I was lost for words," he told THE STAR. "I was very, very humbled because I thought it was such a wonderful kind gesture. I understand the significance of this ... us celebrating 61, Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica ... and us making that symbolic handshake once again. It reminds me of Federation. I think we have stood upon our own pride and our own heritage and now is time for us to join in numbers because they say that united we stand divided we fall."

He added that he was "very honoured to receive this award from the Jamaican people and I receive it with love from Trinidad and Tobago". Reflecting on his "deep bond with Jamaica", Montano, who attended Mona Basic School when he lived in Jamaica while his parents attended the University of the West Indies, shared that he has been coming to Jamaica with Byron Lee and many of the people who carry on his legacy of carnival in Jamaica.

Montano's wife Renee, told THE STAR, "He has worked really, really hard and one of his goals is to take soca music to all corners of the globe and to see this manifesting in the other Caribbean islands is amazing. And Jamaica ... he always talks about Jamaica as the place where he first went to school and for him to come back and get the Key to the City is very special for him. We are proud .. he's a true, true Caribbean man."