Alphonsus Celestine Edmund CassellMBE (16 November 1949[1] – 15 September 2010) was a Montserratiancalypso and soca musician, regarded as the first superstar of soca from Montserrat.[2] He performed under the stage name Arrow. Internationally, his biggest hit song was "Hot Hot Hot" (1982), known from the original by Arrow and numerous later versions by other musicians.
Cassell first performed at the age of 10 in a concert at the Montserrat Secondary School.[2] He began singing calypso in 1967 and took the Junior Monarch title that year.
Cassell took up singing professionally in 1969. That year he was runner up in the Montserrat Calypso King competition. He won the title the following year, following in the footsteps of his brothers Justin (known as Hero) and Lorenzo (known as Young Challenger).[2] He took the title a total of four times.
Career
He released his first album Arrow on Target in the summer of 1971, two singles in mid 1972, "Dance with me woman", and "Jean under the bed." In 1972 November he released his second album.. Arrow strikes again... His third album was released in 1975. Ed Watson served as arranger for these first three albums. Arrow recorded five more albums with Watson before he started working with Leston Paul.
Cassell began to fuse calypso with other genres such as Zouk, R&B, and salsa. This resulted in some criticism and accusations that he was destroying Montserrat's calypso traditions. Others argued that his updating of the genre brought it to a new audience.[2]
In 1982, Cassell began collaborating with arranger Leston Paul and recorded "Hot Hot Hot". This was his biggest hit and it became the biggest selling soca hit of all time. "Hot Hot Hot" was composed by Arrow's brother, Justin 'Hero' Cassell. The song was adopted as the theme song of the 1986 FIFA World Cup in Mexico, and was later covered by Buster Poindexter, Menudo, and Babla & Kanchan.[2]
Arrow capitalised 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.[2] 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.
Cassell established himself as a businessman in Montserrat in 1973, owning the Arrow's Manshop store in Plymouth. When this was destroyed by the Soufriere Hills volcanic eruption, he relocated to St. John's, Antigua. He organised a fund-raising calypso festival on the island in 1996, in response to the devastation caused by the volcano.[2]
Cassell co-headlined Bermuda's Soca '96 festival, and continued to regularly release albums. In 1988, he was given the Living Legends award by the organizers of the Caribbean Song Festival and the Bahamas Tourist Board.[2]
Cassell continued to be much in demand in the Caribbean. He performed at the Cricket World Cup 2007 opening ceremonies with Shaggy, Byron Lee and Kevin Lyttle. His last performance was at a fund-raising concert for Haiti at the Montserrat Cultural Center in January 2010.
Death
Cassell died peacefully at home in Montserrat with his family at his side, on 15 September 2010, after battling cerebral cancer for two years.[3]
1994: "Hot Hot Hot (World Carnival Mix '94)" No. 38 UK, No.9 Australia[4]
References
^"Soca singer Alphonsus 'Arrow' Cassell dies at 60" Los Angeles Times 16 September 2010
^ abcdefghThompson, Dave (2002) "Reggae & Caribbean Music", Backbeat Books, ISBN0-87930-655-6, pp. 26–28
^Wayne Bowman, "Arrow flies no more", Trinidad Express, 15 September 2010.
^Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 30. ISBN1-904994-10-5.
Further reading
De Ledesma, Charles and Georgia Popplewell. "Put Water in the Brandy?"". 2000. In Broughton, Simon and Ellingham, Mark with McConnachie, James and Duane, Orla (Ed.), World Music, Vol. 2: Latin & North America, Caribbean, India, Asia and Pacific, pp 507–526. Rough Guides Ltd, Penguin Books. ISBN1-85828-636-0
External links
Alphonsus Cassell bio
Norman 'Gus' Thomas (6 August 2004) Soca Superstar Arrow Among Honourees In Antigua.
Obituaries from The Guardian and The Independent newspapers.
February 20, 2023
arrow, musician, alphonsus, celestine, edmund, cassell, november, 1949, september, 2010, montserratian, calypso, soca, musician, regarded, first, superstar, soca, from, montserrat, performed, under, stage, name, arrow, internationally, biggest, song, 1982, kno. Alphonsus Celestine Edmund Cassell MBE 16 November 1949 1 15 September 2010 was a Montserratian calypso and soca musician regarded as the first superstar of soca from Montserrat 2 He performed under the stage name Arrow Internationally his biggest hit song was Hot Hot Hot 1982 known from the original by Arrow and numerous later versions by other musicians ArrowBirth nameAlphonsus Celestine Edmund CassellBorn 1949 11 16 16 November 1949Montserrat West IndiesDied15 September 2010 2010 09 15 aged 60 Montserrat West IndiesGenresCalypso socaOccupation s Musiciansinger songwriterInstrument s VocalsYears active1959 2010LabelsArrow 1973 2010 Chrysalis 1981 84 London 1984 Island 1988 89 Mango 1989 90 WebsiteOfficial website Contents 1 Early years 2 Career 3 Death 4 Discography 4 1 Albums 4 2 Singles 5 References 6 Further reading 7 External linksEarly years EditCassell first performed at the age of 10 in a concert at the Montserrat Secondary School 2 He began singing calypso in 1967 and took the Junior Monarch title that year Cassell took up singing professionally in 1969 That year he was runner up in the Montserrat Calypso King competition He won the title the following year following in the footsteps of his brothers Justin known as Hero and Lorenzo known as Young Challenger 2 He took the title a total of four times Career EditHe released his first album Arrow on Target in the summer of 1971 two singles in mid 1972 Dance with me woman and Jean under the bed In 1972 November he released his second album Arrow strikes again His third album was released in 1975 Ed Watson served as arranger for these first three albums Arrow recorded five more albums with Watson before he started working with Leston Paul Cassell began to fuse calypso with other genres such as Zouk R amp B and salsa This resulted in some criticism and accusations that he was destroying Montserrat s calypso traditions Others argued that his updating of the genre brought it to a new audience 2 In 1982 Cassell began collaborating with arranger Leston Paul and recorded Hot Hot Hot This was his biggest hit and it became the biggest selling soca hit of all time Hot Hot Hot was composed by Arrow s brother Justin Hero Cassell The song was adopted as the theme song of the 1986 FIFA World Cup in Mexico and was later covered by Buster Poindexter Menudo and Babla amp Kanchan 2 Arrow capitalised 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 2 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 Cassell established himself as a businessman in Montserrat in 1973 owning the Arrow s Manshop store in Plymouth When this was destroyed by the Soufriere Hills volcanic eruption he relocated to St John s Antigua He organised a fund raising calypso festival on the island in 1996 in response to the devastation caused by the volcano 2 Cassell co headlined Bermuda s Soca 96 festival and continued to regularly release albums In 1988 he was given the Living Legends award by the organizers of the Caribbean Song Festival and the Bahamas Tourist Board 2 Cassell continued to be much in demand in the Caribbean He performed at the Cricket World Cup 2007 opening ceremonies with Shaggy Byron Lee and Kevin Lyttle His last performance was at a fund raising concert for Haiti at the Montserrat Cultural Center in January 2010 Death EditCassell died peacefully at home in Montserrat with his family at his side on 15 September 2010 after battling cerebral cancer for two years 3 Discography EditAlbums Edit The Mighty Arrow on Target 1972 Arrow Strikes Again 1973 Keep on Jamming 1975 Sweet Beat 1978 Instant Knockout 1980 Man From Africa 1980 Double Trouble 1981 Hot Hot Hot 1982 Heat 1983 Soca Savage 1984 Deadly 1985 Heavy Energy 1986 Soca Explosion 1987 Knock Dem Dead 1988 Massive 1988 O La Soca 1989 Soca Dance Party 1990 Hot Soca Hot 1990 Zombie Soca 1991 Zombie Remixes 1991 The Best of Arrow Volume 2 1992 Model De Bam Bam 1992 Outrageous 1993 Classics 1994 Phat 1995 Ride De Riddim 1996 Turbulence 1998 Beat De Drum 2000 Arrow Vintage Volume 1 2002 No Rules 2002 Singles Edit 1973 Dance with Me Woman 1981 Soca Rhumba B side Bills 1982 Curacao B side Bills 1983 Rub Up 1983 Hot Hot Hot No 59 UK B side Money 1984 Long Time No 30 UK B side Colombia Rock 1987 Hurray Hurray B side Wanna Dance 1988 Groove Master No 23 US Dance 1989 O La Soca No 38 US Dance 1994 Hot Hot Hot World Carnival Mix 94 No 38 UK No 9 Australia 4 References Edit Soca singer Alphonsus Arrow Cassell dies at 60 Los Angeles Times 16 September 2010 a b c d e f g h Thompson Dave 2002 Reggae amp Caribbean Music Backbeat Books ISBN 0 87930 655 6 pp 26 28 Wayne Bowman Arrow flies no more Trinidad Express 15 September 2010 Roberts David 2006 British Hit Singles amp Albums 19th ed London Guinness World Records Limited p 30 ISBN 1 904994 10 5 Further reading EditDe Ledesma Charles and Georgia Popplewell Put Water in the Brandy 2000 In Broughton Simon and Ellingham Mark with McConnachie James and Duane Orla Ed World Music Vol 2 Latin amp North America Caribbean India Asia and Pacific pp 507 526 Rough Guides Ltd Penguin Books ISBN 1 85828 636 0External links EditAlphonsus Cassell bio Norman Gus Thomas 6 August 2004 Soca Superstar Arrow Among Honourees In Antigua Obituaries from The Guardian and The Independent newspapers Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Arrow musician amp oldid 1100836650, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
