Brooklyn Public Library will open “Journey of a Soca King: The Exhibition” Aug. 22 at Central Library, celebrating the life and career of soca performer Machel Montano and his contributions to Caribbean music and culture.
Created by the Machel Montano Foundation for Greatness, the exhibition will feature costumes, trophies and vinyl records from Montano’s more than five-decade career. Visitors can also listen to selections of his music at Central Library’s vinyl listening station and watch key moments from his life and career.
The exhibition highlights Brooklyn’s connection to Montano, who spent time in the borough at age 9 after receiving a scholarship to Marie Brooks’ summer programming in 1984. In the mid-1990s, Montano lived on Utica Avenue and recorded “Big Truck,” his first road march, in Brooklyn.
“Brooklyn helped raise me,” said Machel Montano. “I lived here, I learned here, and some of my earliest audiences were right in these neighborhoods. So for this work to come back to Brooklyn, in a place that is free and open to anybody who walks through the door, means everything."
The exhibition also explores the broader connection between Montano’s career and Brooklyn’s Caribbean community. The borough is home to one of the largest Caribbean diasporas outside the Caribbean, with generations of immigrants influencing its music, food, literature, businesses, politics and arts.
"The Library is committed to preserving and sharing the stories, histories and cultural contributions of the communities we serve," said Linda E. Johnson, president and CEO of Brooklyn Public Library. "This exhibition will offer visitors an opportunity to explore the enduring impact of Caribbean music and culture through the life and career of one of its most influential and beloved artists.”
Related programming will take place at branches in Brooklyn’s Little Caribbean neighborhoods, including Clarendon, Rugby, Crown Heights, Flatbush and Brower Park. Events will include readings, arts and crafts workshops and cultural experiences for youth and adults.
The exhibition follows the 2026 documentary “Like Ah Boss: Journey of a Soca King,” which focuses on Montano’s 16 performances during the 2015 Carnival season and other parts of his career. The film will be projected on the facade of Central Library Sept. 3.
Details about the exhibition and related programming are available through Brooklyn Public Library.
