UKELELE

[The Captain]

Young At Heart

Here is a short video of Bill Tapia at 101 years old.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VidYm1r1yRs

 

[HodgePodge]

A few more for the mix.

'Spats' Langham

Randy Greer , playing a nifty little arrangment of a tune called 'Dinah.' Skip ahead to 7:07. The rest of the video is a lot of talking, though he does go over the chords in brief.

That rendition by Jake Shimabukuro is certainly one heckuva thing, though I have seen people dispute whether or not that is in fact a ukulele, or something related but of different heritage.

My favourite Ukulele player to date is probably Julia Nunes, though. Doesn't play anything really FL worthy, but she's just so darn cute.

 

[JennyLou]

I went to the music store yesterday and started looking at the ukelele. I was abole to get a few chords. i think I'd like to learn to play the ukelele.

 

[FinalVestige79]

The best Ukulele I have ever heard was Janet Klein, she does some great stuff!

 

[miles_archer]

I saw Loudon Wainwright III in concert a few months ago and he did a song with uke accompaniment about the ukulele. I myself have a 1930's era regal I got at an antique store for $5 and had my luthier make playable for ten times that. Still a bargain! Very cool instrument but in my hands it sounds terrible. Also being 6'4 I look silly even for a uke player.

 

[WH1]

Israel Kamakawiwoole aka Brother Iz is one of my favorite ukelele performers and favorite performers period. The first video is him singing and playing "On a white sandy beach" great song, the second is Somewhere over the rainbow". The third is a Video they did for lost but it features Iz's medley of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" and "What a Wonderful World", guaranteed to cheer you up. He was a truly great musician unfortunately he passed way to early. If you can find one of his cd's, best sunday morning music in the world!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_YfyKahP-0&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZFkXQKCuBc&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8aaZ6Br2Ws&feature=related

 

[Hamilton_Honey]

me too

I too have a humble little inexpensive ukulele - a birthday gift from my sister last year

So far I have only learned "By The Light of The Silvery Moon" but I hope to expand my repertoire. As LizzieMaine pointed out, there is quite a bit of ukulele friendly sheet music out there from the Golden era - here are a few from my small collection so far:

And my little Leolani Uke (thanks, Sis!)

 

[toobacat]

You can download a lot of scanned ukulele music here.

 

[Doctor Strange]

An interesting tidbit from the NY Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/30/arts/music/30ukulele.html

 

[Hamilton_Honey]

You can download a lot of scanned ukulele music here.

Wow - thanks for the tip!

 

[Hamilton_Honey]

An interesting tidbit from the NY Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/30/arts/music/30ukulele.html

Brilliant! Check out their website, too!

thanks for sharing this

 

[WinoJunko]

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!

Thats amazing!

Great to hear that he's still going strong!

 

[toobacat]

Here are some ukulele albums for free download.

 

[theinterchange]

... moved onto mandolin .... too many strings ...

I tried learning the mandolin a few years ago, I couldn't chord properly, I ran out of room!

I've Picked up a uke several times and can make music with it, however poorly. It's been one of those instruments I'd love to own but have never bought... sort of like the harmonica.

Randy

 

[HadleyH]

popular ukulele

Yes, the ukulele was very popular in the 1920s. Every tom dick and harry owned one. I'd like to know why the 20s were so fond of ukuleles so much, why the ukulele...[huh]

flappers with ukulele

 

[Fletch]

Easy, portable, and fun.

The uke, I mean. Why it caught on.

I can't get over that picture, Hadley. All that's missing is you.

 

[HadleyH]

Yes ,you are right, they are portable and easy to carry,,, but the 1920s seemed to really like ukuleles more than any other decade, have you noticed that? More than the 30s or 40s for example

 

["Skeet" McD]

I'd like to know why the 20s were so fond of ukuleles so much, why the ukulele...[huh]

Proximate cause: the San Francisco Exposition of 1915/1916: one of the exhibits was a Hawaiian Village. The music heard there introduced the uke as well as the lap guitar to most Americans; things Hawaiian became a popular...and the rest is, if not history....at least "the 1920s."

Like Fletch said: cheap; portable; novel. Behold: a fad.

"Skeet"

 

[toobacat]

There was a ukulele player on Jay Leno last night.

 

[Canadave]

There was a ukulele player on Jay Leno last night.

Cool, thanks. Anyone know who they were? They look very familiar.