Charles "Bobo" Shaw

Charles Wesley "Bobo" Shaw (September 5, 1947 – January 16, 2017)

Charles "Bobo" Shaw joined the American Woodsman Drummer bugle corp in 1953 and also played with the Tom Powel Post American Legion #77. Shaw also learned trombone and bass growing up, and studied drums under Joe Charles and Elijah Shaw. "Bobo" also studied with Rich O'Donnel and Bernnie Snyder of the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra. He also was a founding member of the Black Artists Group, a St. Louis, Missouri, ensemble, in the 1960s; during that decade he also played with Lester Bowie, Frank Lowe, Hamiett Bluiett, and Oliver Lake. and experimented with incorporating new wave and funk music into his improvisational jam sessions at venues in New York City.

Charles was a long time resident of Garfield Apartments, a part of Peter & Paul Community Service in St Louis, Missouri. He was placed into a nursing care center in December 2016 due to his failing health. Shaw died on January 16, 2017, at the age of 69.

Discography As leader Red, Black & Green (Universal Justice Records, 1972; Eremite, 2008) with Solidarity Unit, Inc. Junk Trap (Black Saint, 1978) Concere Ntasiah (Universal Justice, 1978) Streets of St. Louis (Moers Music, 1978) P'NKJ'ZZ featuring Joseph Bowie and The Human Arts Ensemble (Muse Records 5232, 1981) Bugle Boy Bop (Muse, 1983)

As sideman Billy Bang, The Fire from Within (Soul Note, 1985) Black Artists Group, In Paris, Aries 1973 (self-released, 1973; reissued by Aguirre, 2018) Joseph Bowie, Luther Thomas, I Can't Figure Out (Whatcha Doin' to Me) (Moers Music, 1979) Lester Bowie, Fast Last! (Muse, 1974) Lester Bowie, Rope-A-Dope (Muse, 1976) Anthony Braxton, Quintet (Basel) 1977 (hatOLOGY, 2001) Anthony Braxton, Orchestra (Paris) 1978 (Braxton Bootleg, 2011) Anthony Braxton, Quintet (Moers) 1977 05.30 (Braxton Bootleg, 2013) Defunkt, Defunkt (Hannibal, 1980) Human Arts Ensemble, Whisper of Dharma (Universal Justice, 1972) Human Arts Ensemble, The Human Arts Ensemble Live (Circle, 1978) Leroy Jenkins/Jazz Composer's Orchestra, For Players Only (JCOA, 1975) Oliver Lake, Heavy Spirits (Arista/Freedom, 1975) Oliver Lake, Ntu: Point from Which Creation Begins (Arista/Freedom, 1976) Frank Lowe, Fresh (Arista/Freedom, 1975) Frank Lowe, The Flam (Black Saint, 1976) Juma Sultan's Aboriginal Music Society, Father of Origin (Eremite, 2011) recorded in 1970–1971 Luther Thomas, Funky Donkey Vol. 1 (Creative Consciousness, 1977) Luther Thomas, Banana (The Lost Session, St. Louis, 1973) (Atavistic, 2001)