Arrow, a notable performer, songwriter, and producer of Caribbean soca and calypso music, hailed from the island of Montserrat. He was born on November 16, 1949, in Montserrat, West Indies, and passed away there on September 15, 2010.
He gained international recognition with his 1982 hit "Hot Hot Hot," which became a defining soca anthem. Throughout the 1980s, Arrow embarked on tours across Africa, the United States, Europe, and Japan, showcasing his music to a global audience.
His musical journey began at the young age of 10 when he first performed at a concert at Montserrat Secondary School. In 1967, he started singing calypso and secured the Junior Monarch title that same year. Arrow transitioned to professional singing in 1969, achieving runner-up status in the Montserrat Calypso King competition. He won the title in 1970, following in the footsteps of his brothers Justin, known as Hero, and Lorenzo, known as Young Challenger. Over the years, he claimed the title four times.
Arrow released his debut album, "Arrow on Target," in the summer of 1971, followed by two singles, "Dance With Me Woman" and "Jean Under The Bed," in mid-1972. His second album, "Arrow Strikes Again," was released in November 1972, and a third album followed in 1975, with Ed Watson serving as the arranger for these early works. He collaborated with Watson on five additional albums before partnering with arranger Leston Paul.
In his career, Arrow began to blend calypso with other musical styles, including Zouk, R&B, and Salsa. While this approach garnered some criticism for straying from traditional Montserratian calypso, others believed that his innovations introduced the genre to a wider audience.
The collaboration with Leston Paul in 1982 led to the creation of "Hot Hot Hot," which became Arrow's most successful song and the largest-selling soca track in history. The song was written by Arrow's brother, Justin "Hero" Cassell, and it was notably adopted as the theme song for the 1986 FIFA World Cup in Mexico. "Hot Hot Hot" has since been covered by various artists, including Buster Poindexter, Menudo, and Babla & Kanchan.
Following this success, Arrow released the album "Heat" in 1983, featuring the single "Rub Up," and the album "Soca Savage" in 1984, which included the international hit "Long Time," a top 30 hit in the United Kingdom. A remixed version of "Hot Hot Hot" later achieved chart success, reaching number 38 in the UK, surpassing the original's peak of number 58. By this time, Arrow was also incorporating Latin brass into his music, and his subsequent albums showcased influences from merengue, as seen in 1986's "Heavy Energy," and rock in 1988's "Knock Dem Dead." "Heavy Energy" marked his first release for Island Records' Mango label, where he would go on to release two more albums.
In addition to his musical endeavors, Arrow established himself as a businessman in Montserrat by opening Arrow's Manshop in Plymouth in 1973. After the shop was destroyed by the Soufriere Hills volcanic eruption, he relocated to St. John's, Antigua. In 1996, he organized a fundraising calypso festival on the island to support recovery efforts from the volcanic devastation.
Arrow co-headlined Bermuda's Soca '96 festival and continued to release albums regularly. In 1988, he received the Living Legends award from the Caribbean Song Festival organizers and the Bahamas Tourist Board.
His popularity remained strong in the Caribbean, and he performed at the Cricket World Cup 2007 opening ceremonies alongside Shaggy, Byron Lee, and Kevin Lyttle. His final performance took place at a fundraising concert for Haiti at the Montserrat Cultural Center in January 2010.
Arrow passed away peacefully at home in Montserrat on September 15, 2010, surrounded by family, after a two-year battle with cerebral cancer.
