Soca superstar Machel Montano has taken his fast-paced jump up music to the White House.
Strumming a cuatro, Montano, who is considered Trinidad and Tobago’s leading soca artiste, sang his 2009 hit ” Dance with you” to a delighted audience at the home of the President of the United States.
He was one of several Caribbean artistes who performed at the White House last week to celebrate National Caribbean-American Heritage month. Montano also joined other artistes in a panel discussion on the impact of Caribbean culture on the United States.
Also performing at the White House were former Jamaican dancehall artiste Marion Hall aka Lady Saw, Trinidadian jazz musician Etienne Charles and Haitian singer Emeline Michel.
Charles is a recording artist, composer and arranger, and is the Assistant Professor of Jazz Studies at Michigan State University
A video on Montano’s instagram shows him performing before an excited audience. The caption on the video says” We wine in the White House tonight.”
In the first post he says: “Finally made it to the Whitehouse today to represent Soca music! The impact of Caribbean Culture on America.”
Several years ago, President Obama had proclaimed June as National Caribbean -American Heritage month.
In his proclamation this year, he noted that ” during National Caribbean-American Heritage Month, we celebrate the contributions of our Caribbean-American brothers and sisters , and we reflect on how they have bolstered our country and enriched our traditions.”