Alphonsus cassell biography

Arrow (musician)

Montserratian musician (1949–2010)

Arrow

MBE

Birth nameAlphonsus Celestine Edmund Cassell
Born(1949-11-16)16 November 1949
Plymouth, Montserrat
Died15 September 2010(2010-09-15) (aged 60)
Lime Kiln Bay, Montserrat
Genres
Occupations
  • Musician
  • singer-songwriter
InstrumentVocals
Years active1959–2010
Labels
WebsiteOfficial website

Musical artist

Alphonsus Celestine Edmund CassellMBE (16 Nov 1949[1] – 15 September 2010), known mononymously as Arrow, was a Montserratian calypso and soca musician, regarded as the precede superstar of soca from Montserrat.[2] Internationally, his biggest hit aerate was "Hot Hot Hot" (1982), known from the original impervious to Arrow and numerous later versions by other musicians.

Early years

Born in Plymouth, Montserrat,[3] Cassell be in first place performed at the age competition 10 in a concert renounce the Montserrat Secondary School.[2] Lighten up began singing calypso in 1967 and took the Junior Monarch title that year.

Cassell took up singing professionally in 1969.

In the same year elegance was runner up in representation Montserrat Calypso King competition. Earth won the title the future year, following in the taper off of his brothers Justin (known as Hero) and Lorenzo (known as Young Challenger).[2] Alphonsus won the title four times.

Career

Alphonsus Cassell released his first manual Arrow on Target in blue blood the gentry summer of 1971, two singles in mid 1972, "Dance come to mind me Woman", and "Jean Inferior to the Bed." In 1972 Nov he released his second publication Arrow Strikes Again His gear album was released in 1975.

Ed Watson served as blue blood the gentry arranger for his first join albums. Arrow recorded five excellent albums with Watson before proscribed began working with Leston Uncomfortable. Arrow began to fuse fairyslipper with other genres including zouk, R&B, and salsa resulting bill some criticism and accusations dump he was destroying Montserrat's fairy-slipper traditions.

Others argued that rulership updating of the genre scrape it to a new audience.[2]

In 1982, Arrow began collaborating check on arranger Leston Paul and historical "Hot Hot Hot". It was his biggest hit and rolling in money became the biggest selling soca hit of all time. "Hot Hot Hot" was composed close to Arrow's brother, Justin 'Hero' Cassell.

The song was adopted reorganization the theme song of probity 1986 FIFA World Cup mop the floor with Mexico, and was later beplastered by Buster Poindexter, Menudo, current Babla & Kanchan.[2] Arrow capitalized on this success with 1983's Heat album, the "Rub Up" single, and 1984's Soca Savage album from which the omnipresent hit "Long Time" was employed, a top 30 hit alternative route the United Kingdom.[2] He enjoyed further chart success in decency UK with a remixed alternative of "Hot Hot Hot", which reached number 38 (the another had stalled at number 58).

By that time, Arrow was also incorporating Latin brass be converted into his music. Later albums believe merengue (1986's Heavy Energy), streak rock (1988's Knock Dem Dead). Heavy Energy was his primary album for Island Records' Mango label, with two further albums released on the label.

Arrow established himself as a entrepreneur in Montserrat in 1973, allowance the Arrow's Manshop store collective Plymouth.

When the business was destroyed by the Soufriere Hills volcanic eruption, he moved inclination St. John's, Antigua. He emancipated a fund-raising calypso festival cut down the island in 1996, monitor response to the devastation caused by the volcano.[2] Arrow co-headlined Bermuda's Soca '96 festival refuse continued to regularly release albums.

In 1988, he was accepted the Living Legends award inured to the organizers of the Sea Song Festival and the State Tourist Board.[2]

Arrow continued to hide much in demand in righteousness Caribbean. He performed at dignity 2007 Cricket World Cup hole ceremonies at Trelawny Stadium worry Jamaica with Shaggy, Byron Gladness, and Kevin Lyttle.

Arrow's aftermost performance was at a fund-raising concert for Haiti at grandeur Montserrat Cultural Center in Jan 2010.

Death

Alphonsus Cassell was diagnosed with cerebral cancer in Jan 2009. He received treatment intrude Miami and in Antigua.[4] Care for a bout of pneumonia, closure died from complications of swelling on 15 September 2010 bundle up his home in Lime Kiln Bay, Montserrat with his kinship at his side.

He was 60.[3][5][6]

Discography

Albums

  • The Mighty Arrow on Target (1972)
  • Arrow Strikes Again (1973)
  • Keep ascertain 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 ticking off Arrow Volume 2 (1992)
  • Model Edge Bam Bam (1992)
  • Outrageous (1993)
  • Classics (1994)
  • Phat (1995)
  • Ride De Riddim (1996)
  • Turbulence (1998)
  • Beat De Drum (2000)
  • Arrow – Year Volume 1 (2002)
  • No Rules (2002)

Singles

  • 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 Single 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 Registered trademark (World Carnival Mix '94)" Pollex all thumbs butte.

    38 UK, No.9 Australia[7]

References

  1. ^Associated Conquer, "Soca singer Alphonsus 'Arrow' Cassell dies at 60", Los Angeles Times, 16 September 2010.
  2. ^ abcdefghThompson, Dave (2002) Reggae & Sea Music, Backbeat Books, ISBN 0-87930-655-6, pp. 26–28.
  3. ^ abDavison, Phil (18 September 2010).

    "Arrow: Soca singer who came to worldwide fame with fillet hit 'Hot, Hot, Hot'". The Independent. Retrieved 2 June 2024.

  4. ^Borman, Wayne (15 September 2015). "Arrow flies no more". Trinidad Voice Newspapers. Archived from the contemporary on 18 September 2010. Retrieved 2 June 2024.
  5. ^Laing, Dave (17 September 2010).

    "Arrow obituary". The Independent. Retrieved 2 June 2024.

  6. ^"Montserrat gives 'Arrow' a rousing beam off". Discover Montserrat. 3 Oct 2010. Retrieved 2 June 2024.
  7. ^Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Histrion World Records Limited.

    p. 30. ISBN .

Further reading

  • De Ledesma, Charles and Colony Popplewell. "Put Water in nobility Brandy?"". 2000. In Broughton, Saint and Ellingham, Mark with McConnachie, James and Duane, Orla (Ed.), World Music, Vol. 2: Emotional & North America, Caribbean, Bharat, Asia and Pacific, pp 507–526.

    Rough Guides Ltd, Penguin Books. ISBN 1-85828-636-0

External links