International soca act Machel Montano, who will be performing at the 29th International Reggae and World Music Awards (IRAWMA) May 1 has received five nominations inclidng Best Calypso/Soca Entertainer, Bob Marley Award for Entertainer of the Year, Most Outstanding Stage Personality, Songwriter of the Year and Most Outstanding Show Band/Group as front man for the band Xtatic.
Montano, born in Trinidad and Tobago is renowned as the international king of soca music, and is the only soca artiste to have sold out two back-to-back shows at Madison Square Garden.
The consummate showman, Montano, one of the Caribbean's most sought after artist has taken the genre of Soca music to heights and continues to work hard to bring the genre from the oil rich island of Trinidad to the mainstream.
"We are extraordinarily proud of Machel Montano's achievements and his endeavor to bring soca to the masses," Ephraim Martin, event producer for IRAWMA 2010 said. "His performance at this year's show will surely be one to remember."
The 29th IRAWMA is the longest running reggae and world music event in the country, continuing the trend of celebrating the most popular performing artistes in the music genres.
Performers and nominees for IRAWMA 2010 include Julian Marley, Dean Fraser, Queen Ifrica, Tarrus Riley, Gramps Morgan, Machel Montano, Bar-bee, Alison Hinds, Winsome Benjamin, Tony Rebel, Sean Paul, Beenie Man and Vybz Kartel among others.
IRAWMA also recognises artistes in gospel, salsa, Latin, reggaeton, calypso, soca, African, soukous, compas, racine and hip hop.
