We were pretty happy to bring a copy of this single into the collection recently - this of course marks the legendary Mel Shaw's first foray into the recording world. As far as we're aware, it's the only recording under his name - he moved on to managing, writing for, and producing other artists like the Stampeders. [center][img width=542]//7ca49eb9f67ba1319ef136f9d52cd8b8.cdn.bubble.io/f1717279219917x490792857820376200/richtext_content.jpeg[/img][/center] [center][/center] Rising Young Star By TOM PRIMROSE (Herald Staff Writer) The chances for a Canadian songwriter getting "a break" aren't on the optimistic side. When popular songwriter Mel Shaw of Calgary climbed to thirteenth place on the top 40 of the hit parade recently with one of his compositions it was a big achievement reached after much hard work and considerable faith in his own ability. It wasn't the final goal for the 21-year-old Calgarian, just another step towards the stardom as a song writer and entertainer he has been working on for years. It probably means the end of the road for Mel's efforts in Canada. He will leave soon for a tour in the United States and plans to remain there to produce more popular songs and develop his career as an entertainer and master of ceremonies. In order to make any headway in Canada the young composer had to write his own songs, do the vocalizing, form his own company to produce the recordings and then take care of the distribution and promotion of his record. Recently he produced a 45 RPM and it was one side of it, Mean Lover, which recently made thirteenth place on the hit parade. The other side of the record has a Shaw composition, The Swinging Sound, which is also popular. THREE YEARS AGO Mel Shaw began writing songs and gave a few performances. It was the result of an ambition he had for many years, to be a night club entertainer working with his own material. It wasn't easy to get going. Local talent, or ambition, finds difficulty in getting recognition, let alone encouragement. Mel says radio station CFAC and Stu Phillips of the station were the biggest help and encouragement he had in Calgary. Stu Phillips sponsored a Shaw contest at CFAC and has plugged the young singer frequently to encourage Mel and get public recognition for what he feels is a talented and worthy young man in the entertainment world. MEL recently turned down an offer by a Vancouver night club to go there as an entertainer. He feels his career must go in steps and the night club job would be too big a leap from his present status. "I've a lot to learn and have to go slow, a brief popularity isn't what I am after and if I didn't make good at the Vancouver night club that's what I'd end up with." He feels that the tour to be undertaken in the U.S. will give him the experience, and opportunities, which he aims for. MEL WAS BORN in Banff and lived there until he was five years old, then came with his parents to Calgary. He attended Western Canada High School. He says he hasn't a musical background. His parents aren't musically inclined and he does not play any musical instrument nor has he studied music. He "gets the tune and words in his head" and then sings it to someone who can put it into written music. He doesn't claim to be anything but a mediocre vocalist and relies on a personal style and humor to get his vocalizing over. MEL WILL LEAVE Calgary early in November and during the remainder of 1960 and into 1961 he will make a personal appearance tour in the north- western states, Hawaii and Australia. He will take his own band with him from Calgary for the tour and it will be the first all-Western Canadian show, in the rock'n'roll field, to be on such a tour. Mel says Canadian singers and entertainers are popular in the U.S and it isn't too difficult for anyone, in his field, to get a try-out there. The rest is up to the individual performer, but at least there is an opportunity there to demonstrate what one has. This month Mel and his five-man band are making appearances in Saskatchewan and British Columbia. After that main headquarters will be in Los Angeles but there will still be a Canadian headquarters for the manufacture and distribution of Mel Shaw recordings. Mel plans to remain indefinitely in the U.S. for the simple reason that there is more opportunity to be found there.
