Rudy Bishop born on February 6, 1945, shares the same birthday with the greatest reggae legend in history, Jamaican Robert Nesta “Bob” Marley, is a musical visionary in his own right. When the Skylarks, a Kitty-based band managed by Bishop, split up after performing during the May 26, 1966 Independence celebrations, some members decided to form another band. Bishop says the band Skylarks broke up because his main aim was to play the classical music – the music of the masters.  “The guys had a falling out and we said we wanted to do something more sophisticated. Pan Am North Star had just collaborated with Winifred Atwell to produce Ivory and Steel, a mixture of piano and steel pan music. That is what I wanted to do to capture the atmosphere of blending classical music with the modern music”. He noted that the steelpan has the distinction of being the only music invented in the 20th century.
Bishop is credited with the new band’s name. Since the band which practised on the seawall with the sound of the ocean in the background, was concentrating on playing symphonies he suggested that the band be named `The Atlantic Symphony Orchestra’. The name stuck.
Shortly after its formation, the young talent fought its way into the ranks of the top three orchestras of that era. In fact during the 1969 music festival, they were second to the now defunct Demtoco Silvertones. This however was only a foreshadowing of many future successes.
After the 1971 competition, Carl Blackman, then Editor-in-Chief of the Guyana Chronicle, called Bishop to his office and offered his sponsorship through the newspaper’s Crossword section. The band became known by the name that is most remembered by, The Chronicle Atlantic Symphony Steel Orchestra, or CASSO. Blackman sent two band members to Trinidad in 72 to learn to tune pans in preparation for Carifesta. Bishop noted that even though Guyana Chronicle halted sponsorship due to lack of funds, he promises Blackman that they would not drop the company name like hotcakes. So he kept on the name for a long as possible.
In 1972, the band won a competition for best arrangement in the first Caribbean Festival of Arts (Carifesta) and was chosen to perform the winning piece for the documentary that was produced afterwards.
In 1973, at the National Steel Band Competition, they were ranked second runner-up. Their talent and sheer determination propelled them forward into becoming the undefeated National Champions from 1975 to 1981.
The then Brazilian ambassador saw CASSO perform and invited Bishop to carry the band to Brazil, funding the initial trip. Returning to Guyana, Bishop organized a contingent of 45 persons – CASSO musicians and members of the National School of Dance, which was led at the time by local dancing icon, Daphne Rogers and embarked, on a three-month tour of Brazil, playing major cities like Rio de Janeiro, Bella Horizante and Sao Paulo. They captivated audiences at every performance including those at the world famous Coco Cabana beach.
The decision not to take part in the 1980 National Steel band Competition was met with ridicule and claims that the band was afraid to participate by the rival bands like the Bidco Invaders who, in the absence of CASSO, stole that year’s show. The band was more likely too busy though.
In 1980, the Orchestra was invited to tour the USSR and participated in the Tchaikovsky Festival in Moscow. They continued to dazzle audiences at other performances in Kiev, Lenin Grad and other cities before moving on to the New London Theatre in England where they played for a special function to honour the captain of the West Indies  and Guyana’s cricketing hero, Mr. Clive Lloyd with the Cacique Crown of Honour.
To defend his band’s name, Bishop carried CASSO’s youth arm, The Young Entertainers, to the 1981 competition and, much to the embarrassment of the older more experienced bands, the newcomers walked away with first prize.
In the same year, the orchestra embarked on its first North American tour sponsored by Guy America Airlines, making special appearances at the United Nations General Assembly, the Beacon Theatre on Broadway and Gracie Mansion – the official residence of the Mayor of New York. The Orchestra also appeared in other cities in the USA including performances in Washington DC, Los Angeles, Los Vegas and Chicago to mention a few. Spending a day at the home of the legendary boxer, Muhammad Ali, they were filmed for a documentary chronicling a day in the life of the boxer.
It was on this tour that the Orchestra made its first recording of two long playing albums entitled “On Tour”, and “Christmas Festival”. Three more dynamic albums followed – “Weekend Party”, “Through the Ages” and a “Touch of Class” all of which can now be had on CD and Audio Cassette.
The Orchestra, at the invitation of the then Mayor of Ottawa, Marian Dewar, left the United States to tour Canada. They made a special guest appearance at the Canadian House of Parliament. The band returned to Washington to play at a United Nations function before heading back home to Guyana. After a brief rest, it was back again to play at Carifesta IV in Barbados and then on to Belize to play at that country’s independence ceremonies.
Their success inspired Bishop to try to put together a Festival of the Guiana’s. Originally conceived by himself and Rudy Buttse of Suriname, the idea was soon adopted by the French Guiana Department of Culture.
The first Festival of the Guiana’s held in Suriname in 1985, was so successful that by the time the second one was held in French Guiana, persons from Brazil and Venezuela had come on board. The third Festival was to have been held in Guyana, the Department of Culture complained that there was not enough money in the coffers to assist in such a project. The Festival of the Guiana’s idea was subsequently abandoned.
In 1989, Rudy Bishop entered CASSO into the National Steel band Championship for what was to be the final time, and they swept the prizes away, carting away the Best Performance, Road March, and Best Dressed Band Awards.
In 1992, Bishop migrated to the United States. Having had some limited experience in electrical work, he successfully qualified himself to work first in cable television installation and then satellite television installation and repair.
He maintained his association with the members of the band and in 1995 they were sent an invitation by the UN to perform at the organization’s 50th Anniversary celebrations. This invitation would be the final stage of the band as because the band received part-sponsorship by Demerara Distiller’s Limited, they were not allowed to access funds from the UN. The reason given being that sponsorship by an alcoholic beverage manufacturer is against UN policy. With costs incurred to pay for travelling, accommodation, and meals, CASSO suffered huge losses.
In another stroke of bad luck, the band’s other part-sponsor, Guyana Airways; folded leaving the band holding return tickets in the name of an airline that no longer existed. Some of the members married and settled down in the US, while the others got help from family to return home.
With the band gone, Bishop put together a steel band in Brooklyn called the Young Entertainers. When a Jamaican pastor, discovered the Young Entertainers online, he contacted Bishop to do something similar for his increasingly restless young church members and the Young Acolytes was born. The Acolytes made a name for themselves all across New York City and Bishop received two citations from the area assemblyman for his work in the community.

Bishop himself continues to train the young musicians for free even though pan lessons typically cost US$80 an hour. He notes that most of those youths have gone on to further their studies at university.
Bishop holds a number of International, regional and local award for his services and they include the Medal of Service, Sunshine Award and Hero Award.