Shu learned violin and guitar as a child before picking up saxophone as a teenager. His professional career began in 1935 in
Brooklyn. For the seven years leading up to his service in the United States Army, he performed in
vaudeville and as a
ventriloquist in night clubs and a harmonica player with the
Cappy Barra Harmonica Band. Shu played in bands while serving in the
Army from 1942 to 1945. He performed with
Maurice Evans in the
Pacific. He enlisted in the Army with
Stan Harper, and they were assigned to a unit that entertained troops. After Shu's discharge from the Army, he performed with
Tadd Dameron (1947),
George Shearing,
Johnny Bothwell,
Buddy Rich,
Les Elgart,
Lionel Hampton (1949–1950),
Charlie Barnet,
Chubby Jackson, and
Gene Krupa (1954–1958). He performed with Lionel Hampton's Orchestra at the Cavalcade of Jazz concert at
Wrigley Field in Los Angeles which was produced by
Leon Hefflin, Sr. on July 10, 1949, and also at
Lane Field in San Diego on Sept. 3, 1949. In the 1960s Shu moved to Florida, playing locally as well as with
Louis Armstrong's All-Stars, Hampton, and Krupa again. He was a member of the vocal jazz group
Rare Silk in 1980. During this period, he performed with this group in
Boulder, Colorado, and in a
Department of Defense tour. His final recording was "Shu-Swings" with the Joe Delaney Trio. Shu died in 1986 in
St Petersburg, Florida. == Movie dispute ==