R.I.P. Arrow

[Hook]

Alphonsus Celestine Edmund Cassell MBE (November 16, 1954 - September 15, 2010) is a calypso and soca musician who performs under the stage name Arrow, and is regarded as the first superstar of soca.

Cassell first performed aged 10 in a concert at the Montserrat Secondary School. He began singing calypso in 1967 and took the Junior Monarch title that year. He took up singing professionally in 1969, and in that year he was runner up in the Montserrat Calypso King competition, going on to win the title the following year (following in the footsteps of his brothers Justin (a.k.a. Hero) and Lorenzo (a.k.a. Young Challenger). He would go on to take the title a total of four times.

He released his first single, "Dance with Me, Woman" in 1972, and set up his own Arrow label in 1973. 1974 saw the release of debut album The Mighty Arrow on Target, followed in 1975 with Arrow Strikes Again. He won the Road March competition at the 1975 St. Kitts festival with "Rummy Song".

Arrow began to fuse calypso with other genres such as R&B, Zouk and salsa, resulting in some criticism, with accusations that he was destroying Montserrat's calypso traditions. In fact, his updating of the genre brought it to a new audience.

In 1982, Arrow began working with arranger Leston Paul, and, with his Multi National Force band, recorded the album Hot Hot Hot, the title track, "Hot Hot Hot", becoming his first pan-Caribbean hit and the biggest selling soca hit of all time.[1] It was adopted as the theme song of the 1986 FIFA World Cup in Mexico, and was later covered by David Johansen (in his Buster Poindexter alter ego), Menudo, and Babla & Kanchan.

He capitalized on this success with 1983's Heat album, and the "Rub Up" single, and 1984's Soca Savage album, from which the international hit "Long Time" was taken, a top 30 hit in the United Kingdom.[1] He enjoyed further chart success in the UK with a remixed version of "Hot Hot Hot", which reached number 38 (the original had stalled at number 58). By this time, Arrow was also incorporating Latin brass into his music. Subsequent albums also saw the incorporation of merengue (1986's Heavy Energy), and rock (1988's Knock Dem Dead). Heavy Energy was his first album for Island Records' Mango label, with two further albums released on the label.

Arrow also established himself as a businessman in Montserrat, owning the Arrow's Manshop store in Plymouth. When this was destroyed by the Soufriere Hills volcanic eruption, he relocated to Salem. He organized a fundraising calypso festival on the island in 1996, in response to the devastation caused by the volcano.

Arrow co-headlined Bermuda's Soca '96 festival, and continued to regularly release albums. In 1988, he was awarded the Living Legends award by the organizers of the Caribbean Song Festival and the Bahamas Tourist Board.

Arrow continues to be much in demand in the Caribbean, and most recently performed at the Cricket World Cup 2007 opening ceremonies with Shaggy, Byron Lee and Kevin Lyttle.

ARROW DIED ON THE MORNING OF WEDNESDAY, 15TH SEPTEMBER, 2010 AT HIS HOME IN MONTSERRAT. Montserrat, the Caribbean and the rest of the world mourn the passing of one of Socca's Greatest Artist, THE MIGHTY ARROW OF 'HOT HOT HOT FAME'. May his soul rest in peace!

[crls]

R.I.P

[Greypatch]

RIP

heard he had taken in ill last week ans was flown out of the island.

The music will live on.

[devrat]

R.I.P

[cinco]

dam R.I.P.

[rollingstock]

RIP

[hydroep]

Frig...R.I.P.

[MISHI]

R.I.P

[K74T]

RIP

Only 55 yrs old! Wayyy

[wagon r]

big loss there....RIP..

[wagon r]

big loss there....RIP..

[AllTrac]

R.I.P

[d rasta]

wow, i now playing HOT HOT HOT! then log on to hear this...
RIP man! thanks for all the music...

[zcarz]

waay.. rip man.. shocking!

[Duane 3NE 2NR]

great music from him
RIP

Arrow had been battling health problems for some time. He had been diagnosed with cerebral cancer in early 2009 and underwent treatment for that in his homeland and in Miami.

BRADES, Montserrat, Wednesday September 15, 2010 – Internationally acclaimed soca artiste Alphonsus “Arrow” Cassell has died, two days after returning home from Antigua where he had been flown for medical treatment.

The 60-year-old passed away this morning.

Arrow had been battling health problems for some time. He had been diagnosed with cerebral cancer in early 2009 and underwent treatment for that in his homeland and in Miami. And in recent months, he has not been in the best of health.

Last Tuesday, Arrow was airlifted to the Mount St John’s Medical Centre in Antigua to receive treatment for pneumonia. There were reports earlier this week that he had been improving and he returned to Montserrat on Monday.

A statement from the family thanked the medical teams, friends and family who gave their support during his period of illness.

“His death is a great loss to the family, his native land of Montserrat and the music world,” said his brother, Justin “Hero” Cassell, another talented vocalist and songwriter, who worked with Arrow during his peak years.

The family said the announcement on funeral arrangements will be made at a later date.

Arrow emerged on the calypso scene in 1967 when he took the Junior Monarch title in Montserrat. He went on to win the calypso monarch competition four times and in the 1970s began to focus on a recording and touring career, setting up his own Arrow label.

He shot to international fame with ‘Hot, Hot, Hot’, which became his biggest selling soca hit of all time. The song was adopted as the theme song of the 1986 FIFA World Cup in Mexico.

Arrow recorded no less than 22 studio albums with other notable hits including ‘Long Time’, ‘Dancing Mood’ and ‘Groove Master’. He performed at concerts, music festivals and gala events across the globe.

http://www.caribbean360.com

[DTAC]

Damn. But his music will live on.

[ras_elmo]

R.I.P Arrow

Now who will Joey Stevens quote??

On another note....to show you how confusing this place can be..

1. Guardian & Express saying the man died in Antigua, Newsday saying Montserrat....
2. Express saying he died from pneumonia...Guardian says cerebral cancer

See how bachanaal starts...damn newsies
http://guardian.co.tt/features/entertainment/2010/09/16/arrow-s-passing-invokes-thought-among-artistes

http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Arrow_flies_no_more-103017689.html

http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,127597.html

[shogun]

R.I.P Arrow

[Cjruckus]

arrow dead dead dead

RIP.

[shaneelal]

RIP, that song is very popular, his family will receive royalties for many years.