Legendary music promoter Cyril Shaw passed away yesterday at a home for the elderly in Berbice, where he was being taken care of while being treated for Alzheimer’s.
Shaw, who was best known for launching and promoting the career of Trinidadian and world renowned Calypso King, The Mighty Sparrow, was 89.
Shaw’s family released a statement detailing his contributions to the arts, with special emphasis on the music industry. It said that Shaw had made an indelible contribution to Guyanese cultural life and more importantly, the development of calypso as a performing art.
“His body of work enriched the arts of publicity and political publications. He established a reputation across Guyana and the Caribbean, receiving several awards for his contribution to the development of the music industry. As an entrepreneur, he promoted the world’s best performers and was an active supporter of Guyanese sports,” the statement said.
Other music legends Shaw would have promoted both locally and internationally include Johnny Mathis, Sammy Davis Jnr, Ernie Smith, Byron Lee and the Dragonaires, Dave Martins and the Trade Winds, Jimmy Cliff and Percy Sledge.
Apart from his promotion of musicians, his family said, he was an activist in Guyana’s anti-colonial struggle, contributing by donating his printing press to The Thunder, the official organ of the People’s Progressive Party.
Longtime personal friend Neville Bourne said, “He will be greatly missed in the entertainment community. When I had the time, he used to take me to shows and they were pleasant times. Oh, how he loved music!
He was very jovial but very strict when it came to management. He had lots of friends because of his kindness and the humanitarian part he played in their lives. He always wanted to make everyone happy.”
The family statement said that many Guyanese boxers such as Lennox Beckles participated in international boxing matches in Guyana and the Caribbean that were promoted by Shaw.
Shaw, who was born at Adventure on the Essequibo Coast, has been honoured for his contribution to the development of the arts and more specifically for the development and promotion of Calypso in the Caribbean and beyond, by several islands in the Caribbean, including St Martin and Aruba, the statement added. He also received honours for his contribution to the music world, including an award from the Guyana Cultural Association of New York.
He will always be remembered as being adventurous and for being a pioneer. He has left a proud legacy which his wife and daughters honour each year with the annual Nrityageet shows, the statement concluded.
