[1][2][3][4] Shwe Pyi Aye was born in Yangon in Burma during British rule on 13 February 1909 to his father, the amateur pianist U Nu and his mother, Daw Hlaing.

At the age of five, he started learning the basics of rhythm from his uncle, a Burmese harp artist.

He became proficient in the piano under the musical direction of U Thar Din and became known as pianist Maung Aye in the 1930s.

Pianist Hla Htut also wrote that more than half of the popular movie songs of the period were the works of Sayar Shwe Pyi Aye.

He was recorded practicing the song " Pan Hay Won" with Ma Aye Mi in Columbia Record; the tape was released in July 1935 by the favour of company manager Mr. Katt and the song "Pan Hay Won" became popular throughout Burma.