WELL-KNOWN Guyanese music, sports and cultural promoter Cyril Shaw died on Thursday just short of his 90th birthday. Shaw has left an indelible contribution to Guyanese cultural life and more importantly, the development of the calypso as a performing art. 
His body of work enriched the arts of publicity and political publications.
According to a statement released yesterday by his family which includes his daughters Nadira, Indranie and Sita, Shaw 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.
“Cyril Shaw promoted world-class talents in Guyana,” his family stated.
Among the Guyanese he promoted are the legendary Madam O’Lindy, Lord Canary, King Fighter, Lady Guymine, Lady Nima, Intruder and countless others.
The Mighty Sparrow heads the list of over 95 stars whom he had promoted, including Louis Armstrong, Johnny Mathis, Sammy Davis Junior, Ernie Smith, Byron Lee and the Dragonaires, Dave Martins’ Trade Winds, Jimmy Cliff, Percy Sledge, Sam Cooke, Lord Kitchener, Calypso Rose, Denyse Plummer, Boris Gardner,The Blues Busters, Johnny Nash, Mariam Makeba, Mahalia Jackson, Baba Olatunji, the Drifters, Small Island Pride and Pluto Shervington.  The Mighty Sparrow described this contribution as incomparable in the international music world.  “Cyril Shaw is the man!”
Cyril Shaw was also a quiet activist in Guyana’s anti-colonial struggle and his contribution was through the Arcade Printery. For two decades, from the 1940s to the 1960s, the Arcade printed and published The Thunder for the People’s Progressive Party.  In those days, before the split, Burnham and the Jagans were working assiduously to get their messages across to the masses.
Later, he spent over 50 years of his professional life touring the world with his many artistes. The globe was his stage, his name a Caribbean legend. Even as he staged the many shows including the Moscow Music Hall, the American Ballet Theatre, the Japanese Spectacular, African Odyssey with Baba Olatunji, the Commonwealth Wrestling Championships and world title boxing fights, he was first and foremost the Mighty Sparrow’s promoter-manager.
He toured with the Mighty Sparrow from 1954, when Sparrow composed Jean and Dinah, until about 15 years ago when poor health forced Shaw into retirement. His Excellency, the Honourable Dr. Slinger Francisco was loud in his acclaim of Shaw’s contribution to the arts.
Many Guyanese boxers such as Lennox Beckles participated in international boxing matches in Guyana and the Caribbean that were promoted by Cyril Shaw as he matched the best of Guyana with their counterparts worldwide.  He was even the architect for  Sparrow’s Hideaway in Trinidad where he and Sparrow hosted major boxing and wrestling matches and Trinidad Carnival music events. The name Cyril Shaw is known and loved throughout the Caribbean islands.
Cyril Shaw 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. Maarten, Aruba, and a few other islands. He also received awards for his contribution to the music world, among his many rewards was one from the Guyana Cultural Association of New York.
Shaw’s family said 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.