There was a pulsating of Caribbean music and culture in New York yesterday, as the first-ever Caribbean Music Awards was held at Kings Theatre in Flatbush, Brooklyn.

Trinidad and Tobago artistes took away several of the night’s big awards, including the People’s Choice, won by Kees Dieffenthaller, Best New Soca Artist going to Tempa and the Soca Impact Award, won by Viking Ding Dong.

Calypso grandmaster David Rudder received an Elite Calypso while Machel Montano was presented a Lifetime Achievement Award for his unparalled contribution to soca music.

“No better time to celebrate the culture that we all have from all the different islands, but what we have brought to these shores and how effective we’ve been as a people, it reverts back home and it sets dreams and goals to all the people,” Montano said as he received his award.

The event brought some of the biggest names in soca, reggae, dancehall, kompa, and zouk under the same roof.

“This moment, the Caribbean deserves it. We deserve it,” artist Mr. Killa said.

“I’m glad that everybody could really come together and unite ’cause that’s really all it’s about at the end of the day — unity,” reggae artist Jada Kingdom said.

Reggae legend Beres Hammond was also honored with the Elite Icon Award for his decades-long contributions to enhancing reggae music.

The event was precursor to kick off the Labor Day weekend and ahead of the West Indian American Day Parade on Monday.