With a moniker like “The Drone” – always overseeing everything, watching, and seeing to everyone’s interest – no one else but Elizabeth “Lady” Montano could be more perfect to write the biography of her son, soca star Machel Montano.
She has been propelling her son’s career from the beginning, giving him the freedom to express himself and share ideas, and has been a mother, confidant, friend, and manager to him.
As such, Montano, 72, has written a biography of Machel titled King of Soca, which will be released in June.
[caption id="attachment_952391" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Soca superstar Machel Montano performs at the Maha Shiv Raatri show in India on Carnival Tuesday before a combined live and online audience of millions. -[/caption]
The idea for the book came from her research thesis, The Making of Monk Monte: Creativity and Commodification in TT popular Culture, for a master of philosophy in cultural studies from the UWI. When she submitted it in 2018, one examiner suggested she add some chapters and use the book to get her doctorate but she did not want to study for another five years.
“When they told me about the PhD, I said, ‘It’s ok. I’ll do a book.’ But between 2018 and 2020, I concentrated on me. And then the pandemic came and that’s when I decided I’ll do the book as I had that down time, that quiet time as I was relaxing in Toco.
“As an educator I always believe knowledge is nothing if it isn’t shared. I thought with Machel being 47, being so young and having accomplished so much, I think I wanted to share that knowledge. I wanted it to be known while he’s still young, while he still has a lot to offer.”
Although Machel was born in 1974, she highlighted some of Machel’s influences such as calypsonians the Mighty Sparrow and Lord Kitchener, and the relationship between their experiences and Machel’s. The biography covers 1956 to 2022.
She told Sunday Newsday releasing the book for her son’s 40th anniversary in the music industry was not planned, but it was completed at the right time which happened to be in time for the anniversary so that it could be part of the celebrations.
She said she wanted the book to be published immediately, did not want to depend on anyone, and wanted autonomy over the content so she self-published the biography under EESM Publishers.
“This way I could decide when I’m going to release it and what I want to include in it. I hope I could do some other things because I’ve been encouraged to do my memoirs. As it stands, anything under my name I’ll start with EESM Publishing.”
Montano has a bachelor’s degree in education from UWI, taught agriculture and science in Jamaica and TT, and was a guidance councillor.
[caption id="attachment_952371" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Elizabeth 'Lady' Montano looks at a collage featuring her son Machel Montano, as she promotes the biography King of Soca at Xtatik Ltd, Gordon Street, Port of Spain. - ANGELO MARCELLE[/caption]
Over the years she mentored and managed other people in the Xtatik family and has nev
