The beat goes on for Machel Montano, the man known to fans worldwide as the King of Soca. His powerful life story, captured in the dazzling 40-year biography King of Soca, continues to dominate global literary stages – winning multiple awards and spotlighting Caribbean storytelling at its best.
Penned by his mother and longtime manager, Elizabeth “Lady” Montano, the book has racked up another round of international honours, most recently sweeping categories at the 2025 International Book Awards in June: Biography: General; Novelty & Gift Book and Performing Arts: Film, Theatre, Dance, Music.
It was also named a finalist in several other high-profile categories:Nonfiction: Cross-Genre, Best Cover Design: Nonfiction and Photography.
The honours follow earlier recognition at the 2025 Caribbean Advertising Federation ADDY Awards, where the King of Soca 50 Celebration – a stunning collector’s edition marking Machel’s 50th birthday – earned a Silver ADDY for Packaging – Single Unit.
“These wins are not just ours – they belong to everyone who helped us tell this iconic Caribbean story,” Lady Montano shared.
This isn’t the book’s first brush with global acclaim. In 2024, it captured the Best Interior Design (Nonfiction) prize at the American Legacy Book Awards and was shortlisted across multiple categories, including Biography and Performing Arts.
And in 2023, “King of Soca” cleaned up at the ADDY Awards – taking Best of Print & Overall Best in Show, gold for Book Design, and silver for Publication Cover Design — plus another International Book Award for Best Interior Design (Nonfiction).
From Trinidad to Antigua and beyond, the King of Soca book tour has been moving crowds and sparking pride across the region. Today, Barbados will host its very own launch event at the Errol Barrow Centre for Creative Imagination, UWI Cave Hill Campus. Presented by EESM Publishing in collaboration with The Faculty of Culture, Creative and Performing Arts, this evening promises celebration, conversation and a chance to meet Lady Montano.
“Whether you’re a die-hard Machel fan, an avid reader, or simply love stories of resilience and success – this one’s for you,” Lady Montano said.
The chronicle takes readers from Machel’s start as a child prodigy to his evolution into an international Soca powerhouse. Lavishly designed, rich with photography, and brimming with heart, King of Soca is both a keepsake and a testament to Caribbean artistry.
Its ongoing international recognition underscores the global appetite for Caribbean voices and authentic cultural storytelling.
The tour continues across the region, with upcoming stops in Guyana, Grenada, St Lucia, Toronto and Turks and Caicos. (PR)
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