Robert Shaw (blues musician) facts for kids

Robert Shaw (born August 9, 1908 – died May 18, 1985) was an American musician. He was a talented pianist who played blues and boogie-woogie music. He is most famous for his album, The Ma Grinder, released in 1963.

Robert Shaw's Early Life

Robert Shaw was born in Stafford, Texas. His parents, Jesse and Hettie Shaw, owned a farm there. The family also had a special Steinway grand piano. Robert's sisters took piano lessons. However, his father did not want his son to learn the piano.

Robert worked on his family's ranch with his father. He would secretly play the piano whenever his family was away. The first song he learned was "Aggravatin' Papa Don't You Try to Two-Time Me." When he was a teenager, Robert traveled to Houston. He went there to listen to jazz musicians. He also visited nearby roadhouses, which were places with music and food. Later, he found a piano teacher and paid for lessons with the money he earned.

Robert Shaw's Music Career

Robert learned a special style of piano playing called "barrelhouse." He learned this from musicians in the Fourth Ward, Houston. Barrelhouse is a rough and lively style of boogie-woogie piano. In the 1920s, Robert was part of the "Santa Fe Circuit." This name came from musicians who traveled by using the Santa Fe freight trains.

Even though he played in Chicago sometimes, Robert mostly stayed in Texas. He performed alone in clubs and roadhouses. These places were in towns like Sugarland, Richmond, Kingsville, Houston, and Dallas. In 1930, Robert played in Kilgore. This was during a time when the oil business was booming there. Two years later, he traveled to Kansas City, Kansas, to perform. In 1933, he even had his own radio show in Oklahoma City.

He later moved back to Texas. First, he lived in Fort Worth, and then in Austin. He settled down in Austin's Blackland neighborhood. There, he owned a grocery store called the Stop and Swat.

Recording Music and Touring

In 1963, Robert Shaw recorded an album. It was called Texas Barrelhouse Piano. A producer named Robert "Mack" McCormick helped make it. McCormick's Almanac Book and Recording Company released the album. Later, Arhoolie Records re-released the album. They changed its name to The Ma Grinder.

In 1967, Robert started playing concerts again. This was seven years before he stopped running his grocery store. With his career starting up again, he played at many big events. These included the Kerrville Folk Festival and the Berlin Jazz Festival. He also played overseas in Amsterdam and Frankfurt. Robert performed at the Smithsonian Institution's American Folk Life Festival. He also played at the World's Fair Expo in Canada and the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.

In 1973, he played with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band at the Austin Aqua Festival. Robert kept performing in the United States and Europe in the 1970s. In 1981, he surprised everyone by showing up in California. He was there to help Strachwitz celebrate Arhoolie Records' 20th anniversary.

Robert Shaw's Personal Life

Robert Shaw married Martha Landrum in December 1939. They did not have any children together. However, Robert had been married before. He had a daughter named Verna Mae and a son named William. For many years, Robert and Martha ran their grocery store in Austin together. In 1962, Robert was named the top black businessman of the year in Austin.

Robert Shaw passed away from a heart attack in Austin on May 16, 1985. He was buried at the Capital Memorial Gardens. Two weeks after he died, the Texas State Senate passed a special resolution. This resolution honored his important contributions to Texas's music history.

Robert Shaw's Discography

• The Ma Grinder (1963), Arhoolie
  • "Ma Grinder" (Shaw), 4:13
  • "Hattie Green", 4:41
  • "Fives", 4:10
  • "Black Gal", 8:46
  • "Put Me in the Alley" (Shaw, Smith), 4:31
  • "Groceries on My Shelf (Piggly Wiggly)", 4:00
  • "The Clinton", 3:39
  • "People, People", 5:57
  • "The Cows" (Shaw, Shaw), 4:01
  • "Here I Come with My Dirty, Dirty Duckings On", 3:58
• Texas Barrelhouse Piano (1980), Arhoolie

Robert Shaw's Legacy

A music journalist named Bill Dahl wrote about Robert Shaw. He said that "The Cows," a song written and recorded by Shaw, was "a piece of incredible complexity." This means it was very difficult and impressive. He added that it would be too hard for anyone who wasn't a true piano master.

Tony Russell wrote a book called The Blues: From Robert Johnson to Robert Cray. In his book, he mentioned The Ma Grinder album. He said it gave a "uniquely clear view" of a music style and songs that almost disappeared.

See also

• List of blues musicians
• List of boogie woogie musicians