Mel Shaw, an experienced record producer, songwriter, music publisher, artist manager and television producer has been active in the Canadian music business for three decades. Shaw was the founding president of CARAS and was associate producer on three JUNO Awards from 1975 to 1977. He is past president of the Canadian independent Record Producers Association (CIRPA), former executive director of FACTOR (The Foundation to Assist Canadian Talent on Record) and successfully worked on behalf of the industry for recent changes in the copyright act.
Originally from Calgary, Mel started his career as a producer of local records, a weekly music television program and publisher of an Alberta music trade periodical The Entertainment Voice from 1961 to 1965.
In 1965, Shaw took up management and development of a local rock group called The Stampeders. As well as manager, Shaw was responsible for the production and release of their recordings on his own label. The Stampeders went on to have twenty hits on the Canadian charts with ten albums. They had four gold albums, six gold singles, three JUNO Awards, and an Edison award from Europe. Shaw also won a JUNO as Producer of the Year in 1972 and in 1974 he was nominated for personal manager of the year by Performance Magazine. Shaw’s film Northern Express was nominated for best documentary of 1975 at the Canadian Film Awards.
Today Mel Shaw has his sights set on conquering Broadway with his new rock musical entitled The Rock Singer. It is based on a lifetime of experiences and notes that Mel has been amassing along the way.
Mel Shaw is currently a member of the CARAS Advisory Board as well as an advisor to the board of Music Industry Arts at Fanshawe College.
Previous Walt Grealis Special Achievement Award winners include Lyman Potts, A. Hugh Joseph, Jack Richardson, Bruce Allen, Sam Sniderman, and Raffi.
This industry Builder Award is named in honour of Walt Grealis, the founder of The JUNO Awards. The award is presented annually and the recipient is chosen by a special selection committee.