Robert Shaw

Austin, Texas blues and boogie woogie pianist and singer, born August 9, 1907 in Stafford, Texas, died May 16, 1985 in Austin, Texas. He was also called Robert "Fud" Shaw and was known as the singing grocer since he had a grocery store in Austin. Shaw was a favorite on the barrelhouse circuit – named for the barrels of booze at speakeasies during Prohibition – but he retired from performing in the 1930s to open a grocery store/barbecue joint in Austin. He recorded for Almanac (reissued on Arhoolie) in 1963, with further recordings made in the 1970s and 1980s released on Arhoolie, Document, and Wolf.