The remarkable career of Trinidad and Tobago soca icon Machel Montano is being celebrated in Brooklyn through an exhibition that brings together costumes, trophies, vinyl records, photographs and other memorabilia documenting more than four decades of his musical journey.
“Journey of a Soca King: The Exhibition” opened at the Brooklyn Public Library’s Central Library on August 22 and will remain on display through September 12. The exhibition is presented by the Brooklyn Public Library in partnership with the Machel Montano Foundation for Greatness.
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The collection offers visitors an opportunity to explore Montano’s development from a child performer in Trinidad and Tobago into one of the most influential figures in the international soca movement. Montano began performing at just seven years old in 1982 and released his debut album, Too Young to Soca, in 1985.
Among the items featured are stage costumes, trophies, vinyl records and photographs from different periods of Montano’s career. Visitors can also listen to selections from his music collection and view digital displays featuring performances and music videos.
The exhibition has particular significance because of Montano’s longstanding connection to Brooklyn. In 1984, when he was only nine, he travelled to the borough after receiving a scholarship to participate in Marie Brooks’ summer programme. The experience exposed the young performer to Brooklyn’s vibrant Caribbean community and became an important part of his early development.
Montano later returned to New York for major performances, including an appearance at Madison Square Garden alongside legendary calypsonians such as the Mighty Sparrow, the Mighty Shadow and Lord Kitchener. His relationship with Brooklyn therefore predates his emergence as one of soca’s biggest international stars.
The exhibition also highlights the importance of preserving Caribbean musical history. The Machel Montano Collection, which spans more than 40 years, was inscribed on UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register for Latin America and the Caribbean in 2024, recognising its cultural and historical value.
Brooklyn Public Library President and CEO Linda E. Johnson said the exhibition reflects the institution’s commitment to preserving the stories and cultural contributions of the borough’s Caribbean communities. Brooklyn is home to one of the largest Caribbean populations outside the region, making it a particularly meaningful setting for an exhibition devoted to one of Trinidad and Tobago’s most prominent cultural ambassadors.
The celebration extends beyond the physical display. A documentary, Like Ah Boss: Journey of a Soca King, which explores Montano’s career and his 16 performances during the 2015 Carnival season, is also part of the programme. The film is scheduled to be projected on the exterior of Central Library on September 3.
Montano’s career has helped carry soca from Trinidad and Tobago’s Carnival tradition to audiences across the world. His longevity, stage performances and collaborations have made him one of the genre’s most recognisable figures, while his influence has helped strengthen the visibility of Caribbean music internationally.
By bringing his personal archive into a major New York cultural institution, the Brooklyn Public Library is preserving more than the history of one performer. The exhibition documents an important part of the evolution of soca and the broader Caribbean cultural experience in Brooklyn, while giving a new generation an opportunity to encounter the music, imagery and history behind one of the region’s most celebrated artists.
