UKELELE

[MrBern]

the Uke is back.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/10/fashion/10ukulele.html


CLICK TO HEAR A UKE

 

[J. M. Stovall]

Santa brought one to my daughter last Christmas...she likes it but I think I play it more than her.

Another one of those cases of Santa really bringing something he wanted for himself? Hmmm.

 

[Dixon Cannon]

Before his death, George Harrison became quite a ukelele afficianado. No doubt brought on by his brief residence in Hawaii (or his former association with Tiny Tim!). He became quite good on the instrument and now Paul McCartney does a little Harrison tribute during his live performances, telling about George's affection for the ukelele and performing a number or two on it himself.

-dixon cannon

 

[LizzieMaine]

The uke was, aside from the piano, the most popular amateur instrument of the Golden Era -- there's the whole cliche of the raccoon-coat-wearing college boy strumming his uke on the old fraternity-house porch, but the instrument was also very very popular with ordinary home folks: easy to learn, easy to store, and cheap to buy. Virtually all popular sheet music of the twenties and thirties includes uke chords, so if you play today there's more than enough material out there.

 

[MrBern]

Before his death, George Harrison became quite a ukelele afficianado. No doubt brought on by his brief residence in Hawaii (or his former association with Tiny Tim!). He became quite good on the instrument and now Paul McCartney does a little Harrison tribute during his live performances, telling about George's affection for the ukelele and performing a number or two on it himself.

-dixon cannon

HAve you looked at this Youtube video that seems to have propelled the Uke trend?
Jake Shimabukuro plays "While My Guitar Gently Weeps"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9mEKMz2Pvo

 

[LocktownDog]

I've played for a few years, but can't say I have any skill at all. Started out with guitar .... it was too big ... moved onto mandolin .... too many strings ... then onto uke ... it was just right. Now I'm collecting old uke sheets from sales in the area. Lizzie's right (as usual ), there was a lot of written music produced for that instrument!

 

[Burnsie]

I've played uke with these fellas for the last 3 years:

http://www.myspace.com/oldlineskifflecombo

I learned all the chording from 30's editions of Popular Songs magazine. I'm no Cliff Edwards, but I have a lot of fun!

 

[Chas]

Whaddya mean "The Uke is back"? It never went away....

 

[funneman]

I can never see a ukelele without thinking of Tiny Tim.

I interviewed him several times and he always brought along a beautiful vintage uke.

He was always happy to favor us with a tune and seemed to have a great admiration for "Mr. Rudy Valee" and a real fascination with music of the golden era.

I always found him to be a polite, gentle, very respectful soul.

Play on, sir, play on.

 

[MrBern]

Beatle cover in Central Park

For anyone who didnt read the article, this is the 2006 Youtube video credited w/ spurring the recent interest.

Jake Shimabukuro plays "While My Guitar Gently Weeps"

 

[Fletch]

UKELELE?

UKULELE, at least in the US.

The three-e spelling is favored by the British, who also insist on putting a second l in chili (which really cools it off).

 

[Ms. McGraw]

I was at the Sanrio store in NYC this weekend and they had a pink Hello Kitty uke. It was all I could do not to buy it (when it comes to Hello Kitty I need twelve steps). I can't play it but I can play a little guitar and since it kind of looks like a little guitar....in the end though, my better judgement won out.

 

[MrBern]

charming Uke

MyHope (original song)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avxpn_MsPYs

Lyrics mischievously hope that someday your grandkids will find your MySpace page.

 

[Craig Robertson]

I was surprised to see this topic on the Fedora Lounge! Hooray! It's called the "third wave" of ukulele interest.

The ukulele is a great instrument. I have four CDs out of original music composed and played on ukulele (and a few other instruments!). For the past four years I have put on a cabaret-style show in Boston called "Ukulele Noir".

You can have a poster of Tiny Tim if you want...myself, I have a poster of Marilyn Monroe with a ukulele...

oh...by the way: for more YouTube original music, try this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3t3Wp5_29w

 

[LizzieMaine]

All uke fans should pay homage to May Singhi Breen -- probably the greatest single advocate the instrument ever had. (And the other members of the Ukulele Hall Of Fame are worth considering too!)

 

[Canadave]

Before his death, George Harrison became quite a ukelele afficianado...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5k-OE0-fWs

 

[Ray George]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5k-OE0-fWs

If you folks like Ukelele music, you have just got to check out Victoria Vox. She is a young woman, very talented, and does amazing things with her Uke, and her mouth trumpet. She is very entertaining...

Here is the URL to her website...

http://www.victoriavox.com/

Enjoy

Enjoy

Enjoy

 

[The Wolf]

Speaking of the Ukelele and George Harrison.
The concert/memorial for George mentioned his love of the uke and ended with Joe Brown playing this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wp_SQLdFwgU

Sincerely,
The Wolf

 

[Canadave]

...and if you like ukulele AND hula hoop, you gotta watch this!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9sMWqp5KHQ

David

 

[The Captain]

Tropical Swing

Bill Tapia, born January 1st 1908, is one of my favorite ukelele artists. He recently played a "gig" here in my area - at 101 years of age! At 19 years old he played the opening of The Royal Hawaiian Hotel back in 1927! He taught Shirley Temple and Clark Gable how to play for "the silver screen." If you ever have a chance to hear him on the CD, TROPICAL SWING, listen to the 1936 version of Gordon Beecher's, Tropical Swing. Bill Tapia, still going strong!