Hurricane Dorian swept away Javier Montano’s dream of winning the nationally televised talent competition “Tengo Talento, Mucho Talento.” After the storm cancelled his flight to California, Montano had to recalibrate his expectations.
The singer-songwriter was 19 years old at the time, and had hoped the show would be his big break. But he refuses to let the missed opportunity hold him back. Unlike many musicians seeking fame, Montano is pursuing a career from his small hometown of Walstonburg in Greene County, NC. Raised in a middle class, immigrant family, with parents from different states in Mexico, Montano asserts that his greatest asset is flexibility. In his music he moves easily between the popular regional styles of Norteño and Banda. Host Frank Stasio talks with Montano about his songwriting process and the growing popularity of Mexican music in North Carolina.