Alphonsus Cassell AKA Arrow is no more .........

[Sikonge]

Huyu Mzee kwa kweli miziki yake tumecheza na kusikiliza sana miaka ya 80. Wimbo wake wa Feeling hot hot hot...... ulipigwa na kusikilizwa dunia nzima. Mzee amefariki akiwa na miaka 60 baada ya kupigana na Kansa kwa miaka miwili hapo siku ya Jumatano, Septemba 15th, 2010
Alphonsus Arrow Cassell

It is a sad and somber day in Montserrat today. The nation and fans around the world are mourning the death of soca super star Arrow.
The acclaimed international performer passed away quietly at his home in Lime Kiln this morning after a long illness.
Arrow, who was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2009, returned from Antigua on Monday after being hospitalized in Antigua.
His brother Justin Hero Cassell said he finally succumbed to his illness.
Hero also says the family will be making announcements in the future on funeral arrangements.
In a statement issued a short while ago the family expressed thanks to the medical teams, friends and family who gave their support during the period of his illness.
The statement said that Arrow is responsible for taking to soca genre to the international music scene with his 1982 smash hit Hot, Hot, Hot.
Having won the local calypso competition on four occasions, the talents of the proud son of Montserrat were spotted by former Beatles manager, Sir George Martin, who worked with Arrow to turn his focus to his recording and touring career.
The family said his death is a great loss to the family, his native land of Montserrat and the music world.
A road show has been organized to be held at the Montserrat Cultural Centre this evening at 7 to pay tribute to Arrow.
Persons are being invited to wear a white T-shirt and bring along a candle or a flash light.
The family also said that funeral announcements will be made in due course.
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 released his first single, “Dance with Me, Woman” in 1972.
Arrow set up his own Arrow label in 1973 and began to fuse calypso with other genres such as R&B, Zouk and salsa, which brought soca music to a new audience.
He recorded Hot Hot Hot in 1982, which became the biggest selling soca hit of all time.
It 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.
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.
He enjoyed further chart success in the UK with a remixed version of “Hot Hot Hot”, which reached number 38.
Arrow also established himself as a businessman in Montserrat, owning the Arrow’s Manshop store.
He was in heavy demand until his illness, and performed for President Barrack Obama in 2009 and before that the Cricket World Cup 2007 opening ceremonies with Shaggy, Byron Lee and Kevin Lyttle.
Current calypso monarch of Antigua and former Calypso King in Montserrat Bear said news of Arrow’s death spolit his 49th birthday today.

 

[Sikonge]

Baadhi ya nyimbo zake hizi hapa:


Tamasha la Mwaka huu kukusanya pesa kwa ajili ya watu wa Haiti. Unaona kweli Upaa ikiwa ni athari ya madawa ya Kansa.


Haya hapa anakuja Crazy Mama, mhhhhhh..........

 

[Sikonge]

Ni ajabu kuwa kama miezi kadhaa iliyopita, nilikuwa msikilizaji sana wa hizi nyimbo mbili. Niko mbiani kununua CD yake ila sema EBAY wanauza katika VYNIL tu. Nimejaribu kutafuta kwenye mitandao kibao ila nimegonga mwamba. Itabidi nimuombe tu Mwakalinga aninunulie hiyo VYNIL hapo UK na anitumie maana huyu jamaa kama nimechoka basi huwa ananikoga saana na midundo yake na zaidi ni Sauti yake ya Kukoroma.

Sina uhakika sana kuhusu zile film za MAN FROM AFRICA pamoja na ya DON'T MESS AROUND kama sikosei. Ninachokumbuka ni jamaa aliyekuwa akiitwa MICHAEL WALKER.......ila dalili zote zinaonyesha kuwa lilikuwa ni jina la picha...... RIP Arrow....

 

[Kibunango]

RIP Arrow, wapenzi wa Boogie wa miaka ya 80 tutaendelea kukumbuka.

 

[Sikonge]

Kibs,

Nakumbuka huu wimbo pale Dar, watu walibadili maneno yake na ikawa "long time sijakula chips....." Hakuna harusi au sherehe bila ya wimbo huu. Mashuleni ndiyo kabisaa maana kila mtu anajitahidi ayakariri maneno yake na awe anaimba kwenye party.

RIP Arrow......



Hebu pia tujikumbushe Gwiji aliyefanya huu mziki uwe maarufu sana duniani na kufungua njia kwa watu kama akina Arrow kuanza nao kutesa duniani. Huyu jamaa anakiri kabisa kuwa Harry Belafonte amesaidia sana kuutangaza zaidi huu mziki na zaidi alisaidiwa na lafudhi ya lugha maana Kiingereza chao kimekaa mkao wa Kiswahili na mwenzao alikuwa na Kiingereza kinachoelewa kirahisi...... Wao wana zile za De Way you wine badala ya The way you wine....... RIP Dr. Kitchener.....