He introduced The Beatles to South Florida air waves. Now he gets a tribute fit for a radio legend.
Who didn’t love DJ Rick Shaw?
For more than 50 years, the late music man’s distinctively warm and enthusiastic voice echoed through the airwaves in South Florida where he spent much of his career spinning golden oldies rock ’n’ roll through his retirement in 2006.
Of course, when Shaw first started playing the songs, those hits were yet to be classics. He broke records, too. In 1964, while he worked for WQAM, Shaw was the first radio disc jockey in South Florida to play the Beatles when he aired the British foursome’s single, “I Want to Hold Your Hand,” which set off Beatlemania in the United States.
Shaw died at 78 on Sept. 22.
Fans, friends and colleagues will pay tribute at a Remembering Rick Shaw memorial Sunday afternoon at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach. The tribute, doubling as a benefit for Kids in Distress, will feature audio and video highlights of Shaw’s career and tributes from local celebrities, including Beatles Brunch host, DJ Joe Johnson and Majic 102.7 colleague Mindy Lang.
Also, there will lbe live music with Chris MacDonald performing his Memories of Elvis show and a silent auction featuring Rick Shaw memorabilia. No word yet if that iconic “I Want to Hold Your Hand” Capitol records 45 will be among the items up for grabs.
If you bring a new, unwrapped toy for Kids in Distress to the event you will receive a copy of Shaw’s final broadcast on Majic 102.7 from May 11, 2007, on CD, Johnson said. The disc has 75 minutes of Shaw’s final day on the air as he told stories, took calls and welcomed guests.
The CD will feature one song — fittingly, the 1959 Ray Peterson classic, “Goodnight My Love,” which Shaw used as his sign-off song.
Howard Cohen: 305-376-3619, @HowardCohen
If you go
What: Remembering Rick Shaw memorial tribute
Where: Gulfstream Park’s Sport of Kings theater, 501 S. Federal Hwy., Hallandale Beach
When: 5-9 p.m. Sunday
Cost: Free admission but guests are asked to bring a new, unwrapped toy to benefit Kids in Distress
Information: 954-726-2425 or facebook.com/rickshawtribute
This story was originally published October 19, 2017 at 11:10 PM.