After 10 Years of learning the industry, honing his craft and performing at a consistently high level, Michael “Mikey” Mercer has not simply reached maturation as a Soca Artiste; he has evolved into a Star, and quite possibly the most important young force in Soca Music in Barbados today.

With his debut track “Come Together” earning him the Tune of the Crop back in 2004, it has been a hit laden journey to ultimate victory for Mikey. 2005 saw “Dat Time Again” placing third in the “People’s Monarch” solidifying the fact that Mikey’s national fan base was growing, while 2006 showed his versatility as lead singer for the band Elektrik and the release of the Ragga Soca track “Belong to We” as well as his first Social Commentary attempt with “Soca”.

Then came 2007, the year of the collaboration, and Mikey’s evolution continued with two hit duets. “C.L.A.P” recorded and performed alongside Lorenzo and “Bashment Bachanal” with Krosfyah’s lead singer Khiomal, joined Mikey’s solo offering “My Time”, a title that would prove clairvoyant as Mikey’s competition finishes from that point on would pave the way to victory.

With second placed finishes in both Party Monarch and Sweet Soca (Groovy Soca) competitions from this point on with tracks like “We Luv It”, “Explosion”, “I in Dat”, “My Party”, “Riddum Sekshun”, “De Whole Place Mash Up (performed alongside Soka Kartel lead singer Blood)” and “Jammin”, 2011 would be the year that Mikey would finally break the competition code, as the 16 year old Party Monarch contest moved from day to night. If there was any doubt of his Soca Stardom after his first Party Monarch Victory with the track “Pavement Anticipation”, there is nothing but anticipation for the future as Mikey cleaned up the Crop Over competition circuit in 2012 grabbing an unprecedented 4 huge crowns from his 2 Massive Hits.

The fast paced “No Behaveya” grabbed the attention of both the audience and the judges as Mikey repeated as Party Monarch and King of Soca in Barbados. However it would be the sweet sounds of “We Loose” that stood apart for the season, earning Mikey Sweet Soca (Groovy Soca) bragging rights for the first time ever as well as the People’s Monarch and Tune of the Crop.

Winning Tune of the Crop in his debut year with the fast paced “Come Together” and earning that honour again in 2012, with the Ragga Soca “We Loose”, Mikey’s versatility and maturity cannot be questioned, nor can his consistency as one of the “go to artists” for the Crop Over Festival.

Now Mikey is getting ready to head into Phase 2 of his Soca journey. Having penetrated Trinidad’s International Soca Monarch Finals in 2012 for the first time with his hit “Pavement Anticipation,” he continues to keep his eyes on the prize. Even more importantly on a personal note, he has further embraced his role model status with the creation of the Team Mikey Charity.

Mikey’s Charity is a story all to itself, but suffice to say that it has evolved with his success, to not only represent his ideals to give back to those in need, but most importantly to showcase the good will and strong community spirit of the Barbadian people that Mikey represents as their Soca Ambassador. Through donation bins and the sale of Team Mikey TShirts, Mikey has used his status to prepare hampers for Children’s and Senior Citizen’s homes across the island as well as raise funds for Battered Women’s Shelters.

If 2004 was Mikey’s spring board into the arena of Soca music, 2012 has been his spring board into the world of Soca Stardom and at this point, the sky is no longer the limit… we’re looking into the stratosphere.

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Article originally from http://mikeymercer.com/about-us/