Stars and Stripes Forever

Thinking about Memorial Day, John Phillip Sousa's march Stars and Stripes Forever has been running through my brain.

The march's trio is a ukulele classic, and has been a signature piece for many players throughout ukulele history (composed in 1897, the ukulele's 18th year). The first reference I've found to its ukulele performance is in 1910, by Antonio Abreu Santos (aka "Batata" or "Potato") who played it to great effect at a performance at the Honolulu YMCA. (This, from Jim Tranquada and John King's seminal The 'Ukulele, a History, and, if you don't own a copy, go to your local bookstore and buy/order a copy now.)

Other notable versions have been played and arranged by Bill Tapia (who at 10, played it for WWI troups in Hawaii), Jesse Kalima, Roy Smeck, and Bobby Henshaw, and others.

Here are links to reference recordings, videos and tabs. If you know of any others, please leave a comment and I'll add them here. In particular, if know of a tab for Bill Tapia's Stars and Stripes/Sweethearts on Parade medley, let me know with all speed and I will be forever in your debt. It's my personal favorite among the bunch. (Bonus points if you've worked out Nobles of the Mystic Shrine.)

Bill Tapia

Stars and Stripes Forever/Sweethearts on Parade (YouTube)

Talk Story/Stars and Stripes/Sweethearts on Parade (YouTube)

Roy Smeck 

(Smeck student Vincent Cortese plays Roy's version)

Stars and Stripes Forever (YouTube)

Stars and Stripes Forever Tab (.pdf)

Jesse Kalima

Stars and Stripes Forever w/Kalima Brothers (mySpace)

Stars and Stripes Forever Tab (.pdf)

Bobby "Uke" Henshaw

Stars and Stripes Forever (YouTube)

Jake Shimabukuro

Stars and Stripes Forever (YouTube)

Balsa Bill Yerkes

Stars and Stripes Forever (complete march!) (YouTube)

Dominator

Stars and Stripes Forever Tab (.pdf)