Soca legend ‘The Mighty Arrow’ dies

Legendary artiste Arrow – born Alphonsus Celestine Edmund Cassell – died early this morning in his native Montserrat.

Arrow, who is renowned for his globally acclaimed soca hit Hot Hot Hot, reportedly died from cancer. He was 55-years-old.

Information regarding the details of his death have still not been attained.

‘The Mighty Arrow’ has been in the business of soca music since 1967. In the late 1970s he was credited for fusing the genre with R&B, Zouk and salsa –  attracting a new breed of enthusiasts. He has recorded 22 albums and eight hit singles.

In 1988, he was awarded the Living Legends award by the organizers of the Caribbean Song Festival and the Bahamas Tourist Board.

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35 Comments

  1. Jennifer
    September 18, 2010

    @awe—freaking—some!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!111: DUHH……..If you don’t know what fans are writing about, just don’t comment at all. They are saddened by the death of Soca legend Arrow who was ‘the’ most popular Soca artist in the world. RIP Arrow.

  2. September 18, 2010

    @jazz: please delete as there is a spelling mistake

  3. September 18, 2010

    So shocked that you have passed away ,I was your number one fan and STILL am. I am not a get dancer but every time that I heard hot hot hot I just had to get up and shake me body. It was a fantastic tune. RIP

  4. naomi
    September 17, 2010

    Deepest sympathy goes out to the family and friends of Arrow. I knew him ,and his business place in Monsteratt. We will continue his life whenever we sing, people in the party feeling hot ,all over the people say they feeling hot, your hot, i’m hot, they’re hot his hot. RIP Bro.

  5. commentator
    September 17, 2010

    Yes true RIP Arrow.
    Not a lot of people know this but his calypso “feeling hot,hot,hot” is the most commercialised calypso used in advertising.
    The sad thing is that Arrow sold the rights to that song and never got the proper royalties he deserved for that world wide hit.
    The song has even been used in several film scores.

  6. jr
    September 17, 2010

    His contribution has been significant to the world and his songs will never be forgotten

  7. bonita from SanDiego
    September 17, 2010

    to the family of mighty Arrow,may God give u courage,strength & comfort ,our thoughts & preyers are with u all.

  8. FRANCIS FRANCIS CHICAGO IL
    September 16, 2010

    HE WAS 60 not 55 years OLD RIP ARROW.

  9. September 16, 2010

    i grew up with his songs born in 1965, love to hear the macho man song. he is a true legend. i’m going to play his music in celebration of his life.

    arrow rest in peace, we all have to take a # some day gone but not forgotten. to the family of agreat man accept my sympathy.
    dominican living in st croix

  10. September 16, 2010

    I remembered one year he was in Toronto for the Caribana season at that time the song came out ” HOT HOT HOT” whenever he would sing it the rain would come down but the crowd was there for him that was one of the best cariban week end we ver had, I am sadden that he is gone but where he’s gone to is much better than ever.
    To the family he left behai my deepest condolences and also to the people of Montserated he will never be forgotten.

  11. awe---freaking---some!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!111
    September 16, 2010

    ARROW….HE WAS TRYING TO MOCK SPARROW OR SOMETHING??? OR IS THAT SPARROW.

  12. Maur
    September 15, 2010

    I must say what a great singer he was, when his album came out hot, hot, hot, i was right there looking at him singing his life away and thank god i got the opportunity to know him and deal with him as a person he was indeed a very nice and humble guy, may his soul rest in peace i also prayed that the good lord strenghten his family in every way my deepest condolences goes out to them, also to my sister in Montesrrat i know how she is feeling right now because he was a dear friend to her he would never see her anywhere and dont stop to say hi may his soul rest in peace,for he is in a better place now.

  13. September 15, 2010

    He is still too young, and such a handsome dude, to be gone to the grave.

    I can only hope that his family and friends are a people who understand that they can hold on to Life in the Spirit on his behalf. I pray that he is someone, who lived the Life by faith, that though he has gone to the dust, this dust will not keep him in the grave.

    In Toronto, the hit, “Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot”, was one of those that got most of my Jamaican friends to like soca music. The next one was “I Feeling It”, sung by the Mighty Baron. I also believe that Arrow made a hit with that song through the back up of Byron Lee and the Dragoneers, when he scolded them for playing the tune with a reggae bit.

    In Toronto also, there used to be a commercial with that song as its introduction and background. I think that it had something to do with summer time, but I do not remember now.

    My sympathy goes to his family and friends; and may his soul rest in peace.

    But the person with the identity of LIFE, you have used a song of the Mighty Sparrow, how do you link it with the death of the Mighty Arrow?

  14. leroy possie
    September 15, 2010

    God bless thanks for your contribution

  15. DD
    September 15, 2010

    RIP Arrow. Feeling HOT HOT HOT was a song I grew listening to and I loved it. Still one of the hottest soca songs out there. You are a legend.

  16. Trish
    September 15, 2010

    We bid you adieu, Arrow. Your passing makes me tearful but God knows best.

    Thank you for rendering us with sweet calypso jams and soca hits. I especially admired when you often proclaimed, that you are a ‘Proud Montserratian’.

    Rest Easy.

  17. de caribbean change - BBA, MBA, CPA
    September 15, 2010

    Totally shocked and taken aback. Never knew he was sick but had not heard anything about him for sometime. Play me “Curacao Tabong” and “Man from Africa”, our bosom buddy, Ted Dailey.

  18. bam LaFarge
    September 15, 2010

    RIP Alphonsus Cassell. The Soul of Montserrat. HOT HOT HOT. Sad to see him gone from us so soon.

  19. bonita from SanDiego
    September 15, 2010

    soca king u will always be remembered,i love that song hot hot hot,may your soul rest in peace

  20. cherfond
    September 15, 2010

    May your sould rest in peace. Grew up listening to your music. Thanks for your contribution to the Caribbean music industry

  21. jj
    September 15, 2010

    oh my bad, arrow not sparrow

  22. ROXANN
    September 15, 2010

    R.I.P U WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN

  23. September 15, 2010

    The music world has lost a legend for sure. He was a true son of the soil and would not leave his native land Montserrat even though half of the island was wiped out after the volcano eruption.
    Arrow will be surely missed not only by the people of Montserrat but to all those who loved and enjoyed his music. May his soul rest in Peace and he will be making music with the creator.
    He will always be remembered for many of his hit song among them which is Hot, Hot, Hot.
    R.I.P brother Arrow.

  24. MAKS!!!
    September 15, 2010

    You will be missed ‘Oh Great Soca King’. May your soul RIP…

  25. salisbury woman
    September 15, 2010

    May your soul rest in peace,you are gone but not forgotten.

  26. Anonymous
    September 15, 2010

    May your soul rest in peace,you are gone but not forgotten.

  27. Jay
    September 15, 2010

    Although the people of Montserrat braced themselves during his sickness, no one thought he would have been gone so soon. Arrow, was a legend and his music will never be forgotten. He may be dead but his spirit continues to live among us. My condolences go out to his family. May you rest in eternal peace!! you are in a better place now; the suffering is over.
    Hot Hot Hot!!!

  28. FRANCIS FRANCIS CHICAGO IL
    September 15, 2010

    HOW YOU FEELING HOT HOT HOT I LOVE THAT SONG , R I P ARROW.

  29. Dominican to de bone
    September 15, 2010

    RIP

  30. life
    September 15, 2010

    sa sa yay sa sa yay sparrow ou ca chouway moi
    she beg me like a child to stop but not for hell i woudn’t get up
    yu cai get mi money poou ayien

  31. Karkabeff
    September 15, 2010

    Sad indeed. U will NEVER be forgotten. Thanks for your contribution to humanity. The land of many rivers and its people wish you a pleasant journey home to the maker.

  32. timbok 2
    September 15, 2010

    rip…may his soul rest in peace

  33. love my country
    September 15, 2010

    may his soul rest in peace eternal to his family my deepest condolence.he was a great singer to the caribbean and the wider world.

  34. WATCHER
    September 15, 2010

    RIP WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN

  35. go ahead
    September 15, 2010

    May his soul RIP!!

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