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Machel Montano is not only one of the Caribbean's youngest performers, but one of its most successful. With his unique blend of soca and dancehall, and sensual stage persona, Montano has risen to the upper echelon of Caribbean music. The first Trinidadian and the youngest performer to win the Caribbean song festival (in 1987), he's gone on to win the Young Kings Competition in 1991, the Party Vocalist Competition in 1995, and the Road March King Competition of Trinidad and Tobago in 1997. His band, Xtatik, won the Party Band Competition in 1996. According to Metro Connections, Montano "successfully crosses boundaries between young and old, between Jamaica and Trinidad and between soca and dancehall." Montana's talent has been obvious since childhood. Impressing his parents with his singing with the accompaniment of his brother on guitar, he was sent for vocal lessons. At the age of nine, he was chosen to represent the music school at the Junior Calypso Monarch Contest. Forming his ba...