Shahu belonged to a family of tiatrists and developed the basic interest and passion observing his father Pedro Almeida perform in the village tiatrs and Carnival ‘fells’. He was a clever student in school and it was on account of this clever nature, his friends and batchmates called him Shahu; a name of the Maratha King that led people to know him more as Shahu Almeida than his actual name Francisco Almeida.
From a tender young age, he had a passion for drums and drummed to glory for beat groups and dance bands like Magic Touch, The News, Human Status and Black Lace. Shahu turned his attention towards the keyboards, firmly believing that keyboard was the musical instrument of the future.
With his father belonging to the tiatr fraternity, Shahu was naturally inclined towards tiatr music and he approached tiatr directors for a break.
His desire to perform and contribute his share to tiatr music saw him ascending the ladder of success playing music for several tiatr band groups.
Migration led Shahu to Kuwait towards the dawn of the new millennium. Though in a distant land far away from his own, Shahu did not give up on his music. He was of the firm belief that music was a gift given to him by God and with a grateful and thankful heart he began playing the keyboard for the church services there.
When God is part of your journey new avenues open up. Shahu began playing for the tiatr troupes visiting Kuwait. When Mini Mario went to Kuwait with his tiatr Ho Bazar Koslo?, he was faced with visa rejection of his entire band. Here Shahu came to his rescue. He was given the musical notations just a day in advance and Shahu put in his hard work and worked to see the tiatr getting successful. Since Shahu could manage the musical band on his own, visiting troupes found it financially viable and soon Shahu and his music became a household name not only in Kuwait but way back here in Goa too.
Shahu provided music to the tiatrs of many music directors like Jose Rod, Cajetan de Sanvordem, Rosary Ferns, Michael D’Silva, Laurente Pereira and others.
Performing for others and helping them in staging their tiatr productions, Shahu dreamt big and decided to stage his own musical shows. With the support of his wife Clemmie, daughter of the legend Cajetan de Sanvordem, Shahu staged his first Musical Show in 2011 under the title “Tiatrist”. The success was hard-earned and the enthusiasm and good feedback he received made him venture yet again two years later with his musical show ‘Goencho Rakhonnddar’. His next presentation titled Tiatristponn Devachem Dennem came in 2016. Tumkanch Lagon Ami, Konknni Machiechi Seva and Ugddas Dovrun Gele followed in the next 3 years.
With the Covid pandemic looming large, Shahu had his next musical show Ixtta, Ugddas Tuzo, online in 2021. His musical show Sodanch Jivo Urtolo held in the Indian Community School Auditorium Salmiya Kuwait on October 21 saw the Konkani music-crazy fans enjoying his brand of Goan music with encores.
