World Ukulele Festival Calendar

We just discovered Patrick's Ukulele Festival Calendar at Ukuleletravels.com. 

Patrick is on an extended world excursion and has compiled a listing of ukulele festivals around the globe.

It's currently showing events through October of next year (2026).

Thank you, Patrick!

Balkans Uke Fest

Planning on being in Bulgaria in late August? Check out the Balkans Uke Fest...

Charlotte Pelgen from Germany will headline. 

Link

Iz Presentation at International 'Ukulele Fest

An update to an earlier post, here are some nice local news stories about Iz being inducted into the 'Ukulele Hall of Fame.

Story and video at KITV

And from KHON

2025 Inductees: 'Ukulele Hall of Fame Museum

The 'Ukulele Hall of Fame Museum has announced the inductees for 2025.

The first name will come as a huge surprise to almost anyone alive today. Why? Because who would have thought that he had not already been inducted into the Hall of Fame? And that artist is Israel Kamakawiwo'ole. He was and remains a giant among us and holds a position akin to royalty among the Hawaiian people. 

The second may be less familiar to 'ukulele enthusiasts who've been playing for less than 15 years. Because he left us all too soon. John King, in addition to being a master of the instrument, particularly in early Hawaiian and classical repertoire, was one of the foremost experts on the history of the 'ukulele. He and Jim Tanquada wrote the definitive history of the instrument, a copy of which belongs in every ukulele player's library.

Link

A full list of all inductees since 1997 will be found here.

Images credit: The 'Ukulele Hall of Fame Museum 

Ladies of the Frederick Douglass Community Center

From the Toledo (Ohio) Lucas County Public Library:

The ladies of the Frederick Douglass Community Center Ukulele Club line up with their ukuleles for a group portrait around 1928. The Frederick Douglass Community Association opened in 1919 to provide social and recreational opportunities for the African-American youth of Toledo.

Pleased to report that "The Doug" is still in vibrant operation today! It doesn't look like they currently have a ukulele program, so perhaps an enterprising reader from Toledo will offer to (re)start one with them!

Link

h/t Ukester Brown

Ben Smith and His Uke

Here's a new (old) one for me. I'd not heard of Ben Smith before, but here he is, playing a song he co-wrote, "I'm Looking for a Union Sweetheart."

I haven't located the sheet music for this chestnut yet. But here's a cover that features Smith as a performer:

Now I have a wee suspicion that this is not Ben playing the uke. The label reads "Ben Smith and His Uke." But here's a recording from the same year (1925) featuring May Singhi Breen on ukulele: "You Gave All Your Kisses to Somebody Else" (It's mistakenly listed as "What a Life.

What do you think? Are both recordings May?

Ernest Kaai's Hawaiian Troubadours in New Zealand, 1927

Here's a postcard from 'ukulele legend Ernest Ka'ai's tour of New Zealand in 1927. According to the National Library of New Zealand:

A night in Honolulu". Town Hall, Greytown. Tuesday November 22 [1927]

The troupe appears to have visited the Wellington area in November 1927. The Ephemera collection also contains a programme for a performance at Wellington in April 1925, but this postcard is 1927, based on a perpetual calendar." 

  

Link to image.

Here's a link to the cover of a program from an earlier date at the Grand Opera House in Wellington. 

Apparently Ka'ai spent quite a bit of time in NZ. Here he's quoted with regard to a 1911 tour. Link

And a portrait from the same year:

MR ERNEST KAAI. 

Director of the Royal Hawaiian Concert and Musical Organisation, 

and the finest .Mandolin and Ukulele player in the world.

Aloha, Bonanza Ukuleles

Luthier Pete Mai has announced that he'll be shuttering Bonanza Ukuleles. Some stock remains for sale, but no new orders are being taken.

Snip:

As we reach the ten-year milestone with Bonanza Ukuleles, we find ourselves reflecting on a decade filled with creativity, friendship, and unforgettable memories. It is with a mixture of gratitude and wistfulness that we announce the conclusion of our journey.

Over the past ten years, we have had the privilege of building not just instruments, but also a community of passionate ukulele enthusiasts. Your unwavering support and enthusiasm have been the cornerstone of our success, and we are deeply thankful for each and every one of you.

A special note of thanks goes to Pete McCarty, whose early encouragement provided the spark that ignited our journey. Pete was not only our first customer but has remained a stalwart supporter thr"oughout the years. It is fitting that our final build will be for him, closing this chapter as it began—with Pete.

We also extend our heartfelt gratitude to Barry Maz and Got A Ukulele for their honest and insightful reviews. Barry’s work has helped us gain a loyal following and has been instrumental in spreading the word about Bonanza Ukuleles. Thank you for your dedication and support.

During our time, we have crafted over 1150 instruments, each one a labor of love and dedication. Our ukuleles have found homes in China, Australia, Europe, the United States, and Canada, connecting us with a global family of musicians and aficionados. Your love for our instruments has inspired us every step of the way.

As we say goodbye, we do so with a deep sense of fulfillment and gratitude. The friendships we have made and the memories we have forged will remain with us forever. Thank you for being a part of our journey and for allowing us to be a part of yours.

We will be keeping the website open for a couple of weeks to sell off our remaining inventory. 

I have a few orders left to complete, but we won’t be taking any new orders.

With heartfelt thanks and warmest wishes,

The Bonanza Ukuleles Team

Shelley, Pete , and Tony Mai

The Purple Book is Almost Here!

Jumpin' Jim Beloff is offering 100 numbered and signed copies of the next in the Daily Ukulele songbook series: Another Year.

The Daily Ukulele series has quickly become the uke bible for many clubs and strum circles. While the books are not inexpensive, on a per-song basis, they're quite a bargain (about 16 cents a tune). 

This one is certain to be a must-have. For at least two reasons:

It's PURPLE!

We may have contributed a few song suggestions ourself

Preorder your copy here (still available as of Sunday, October 20, 2024)

Song List

Feng E Takes LA

Kid ukulele YouTube prodigy Feng E recently appeared at the Los Angeles International Ukulele Festival. Now 17, here's a brief interview and performance on KCAL.

Gary Zimnicki Builds a Uke

Detroit-area luthier Gary Zimnicki is well known for his guitars, but he builds sweet 'ukuleles, too.

(I'm the proud steward of a Zimnicki Reclaimed Wood soprano!)

Gary recently wrote to say that he's started a project of posting build videos on YouTube. This is the first in the series. We'll update you with new ones as they're posted. Or you can just follow his YouTube channel.

Here's Gary's website: Link

Happy Uke Week!

This Friday, August 23rd, 2024, marks the 145th anniversary of the 'ukulele's "arrival" in Hawai'i in 1879 aboard the Ravenscrag.

To celebrate, our good friend and mentor, James Hill, has several exciting things planned. Surf on over to Uketropolis for complete details, but here are some highlights:

• 20% off, site-wide at Uketropolis. Check out James' many online courses, from The 'Ukulele Way to the JHUI Teacher's program
• 25% off merch at 1879 Apparel
• Song premieres
• Online interviews
• A great big toast to the 'ukulele on Friday, the 23rd.

Complete deets at Uketropolis.

Aloha, Sonja Christopher

We learned of Sonja Christopher's passing several weeks ago, and it's now been announced in the press. For many, she will be remembered as the ukulele-playing contestant on Survivor, Season 1, and with the distinction of being the first Survivor contestant to be voted off the island.

Sonja lived near me and our paths crossed several times. Over the years fans tracked her down and sent her ukuleles. She ended up with a collection of vintage instruments, a few of which are now on consignment at Lamorinda Music where I teach. There's a sweet Martin Style 1 and a 1920s Kumalae. 

She was a lovely spirit, and we'll miss her.

Link

Photo: Entertainment Weekly

Ditson Ukuleles by Martin

The ukuleles made by Martin for the Oliver Ditson Co. Music Store in Boston are among the most collectible ukes out there. Here is a site with a comprehensive history of Ditson ukes. Link

Scott Linker - Four Strings & a Jest

Multi-instrumentalist and, like yours truly, a former Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus clown, Scott Linker has a new ukulele-infused album out. For me, this is kind of like Harpo Marx cutting a record: for all his years in greasepaint, Scott worked silent. It's lovely to hear his voice!

Here's the full album: Scott Linker - Four Strings & a Jest