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Machel Montano Brings the Islands to NPR ‘Tiny Desk’ With Series’ First Soca Set

The King of Soca graced NPR's live performance series with a career-spanning set. Get all the details.

Montano — who boasts a staggering four-decade career that included a 1986 appearance on Star Search and a hit single from his primary school days — delivered a warm, lively set that included hits across groovy and power soca such as “One More Time,” “Dance With You,” “Fast Wine,” “Like Ah Boss,” “Famalay” and “Soca Kingdom.” Every member of his backing band wore Monk Music T-shirts, a nod to Montano’s self-founded record label, artist services and music distribution company. For the first time ever, soca music has graced the iconic NPR Tiny Desk stage, and I am filled with gratitude, and an overwhelming sense of pride, to represent our culture on this global platform,” Montano wrote on his official Instagram page. ),” beating out stiff competition such as Sam Smith ‘s “Stay With Me.” By 2016, Montano brought soca all the way to the Coachella Valley, coming out as a special guest for Major Lazer ‘s topline set; he remixed the EDM trio’s Ariana Grande-assisted “All My Love” in 2015.

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