There’s a man from Montserrat who’s best known for the mega soca hit Hot! Hot! Hot! His name is Alphonsus Cassell and his sobriquet is Arrow. Montserratians consider him their calypso gift to the world.

For a second time, his name was etched into the history books when he performed for visiting US President Barack Obama, during the Fifth Summit of the Americas, at Hyatt Regency Hotel, Wrightson Road, Port-of-Spain, on Friday. Arrow joined a cast of prominent entertainers like calypsonians David Rudder, Ella Andall and soca artiste Machel Montano. When Arrow heard he had been specially selected, he was anxious to leave his home at Lime Kiln for Port-of-Spain.

Quizzed on being selected as part of the stellar cast, he said: “To be invited to perform for the first president of the United States, who happens to be of African descent, is an honour...That is a very special feeling for me. “Obama’s victory is important at more levels. It is not just about addressing race. He has come at a time when the world needs to be inspired. “His message of change has really inspired and given hope to the world.” Arrow described Obama as “energetic and charismatic.”

Before the song’s phenomenal appeal, Arrow sang it as a member of the Original Young Brigade Cast (now Revue) at Wrightson Road, Port-of-Spain.
After a lengthy hiatus, he sang it on Boxing Night 2008 with his friend, calypsonian Crazy (Edwin Ayoung) who visited Montserrat to perform his classic In Time To Come. In Time To Come features the prophetic line “In time to come/ America will have a black president.” Quizzed on what he felt the summit could achieve for the Caribbean, Arrow said it was a milestone for Caribbean people.

Leston Paul comments:

Dr Leston Paul, who arranged Hot! Hot! Hot! by blending soca and rock and roll rhythms, said he, too, was delighted and honoured to learn that Arrow was among the stellar cast for the summit. “I am glad we both had the opportunity to see Barack Obama create history...I enjoyed his performance on television,” said Paul.