Machel Montano exhibition opens at Brooklyn Public Library

The Brooklyn Public Library’s Central Library is hosting ‘Journey of a Soca King: The Exhibition’, a tribute to the career of Soca music legend Machel Montano. Created by the Machel Montano Foundation for Greatness, the exhibit tracks Montano’s evolution from a child performer in Trinidad and Tobago to a global music icon.

Visitors can view various archival items, including costumes, trophies, vinyl records, cassette tapes, and multi-track recording systems. The display highlights the technological shifts in music production that have occurred throughout his career, which began in the early 1980s. The exhibition also explores the broader growth of Soca music from its roots into a global cultural movement.

A private preview was attended by Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke, elected officials, and Montano’s family, including his mother and manager, Elizabeth ‘Lady’ Montano. The exhibition is open to the public and is scheduled to remain on display through September 12, 2026.