[1] For nearly a half century beginning from 1950 to late 1990, his name has probably been mentioned more often in books, journals, lectures and conversations about Nepalese music than any other musicians.

Soon he was tasked with exploring and mentoring new musical talent and overseeing the recording of songs in the studio for radio broadcast.

Together with his colleague Nati Kaji, he made Radio Nepal an institution for breeding modern Nepalese music and songs.

These included Tara Devi (singer), Mira Rana, Nirmala Shrestha, Gyanu Rana, Aruna Lama, Kunti Moktan, Ganga Malla, Puspa Nepali, Narayan Gopal, Prem Dhwoj Pradhan, Yogesh Vaidhya, Udit Narayan, Dhruba KC, Manik Ratna, Deep Shrestha, Bhakta Raj, Bacchu Kailash, Rubi Joshi, and Deepak Bajracharya.

Performing for fifty years, he helped Nepalese music attain popularity in what was termed the "Golden Age".

Shankar played the leading role of a "Lahure Dai" in the film Aama (Mother), the first Nepali feature movie, produced in 1964 (2021 BS) by the Government of Nepal.

He was born to mother Ram Maya and father Man Bahadur on 22 February 1932 in a Manandhar household of the Newar community, in Pako, Newroad of Kathmandu, Nepal.

Man Bahadur Manandhar was a volunteer music teacher in the local community and taught classical Newari songs to the youngsters.