The London Luau

Otto von Stroheim sez if you're going to be near London, June 9th through 11th, 2006, you won't want to miss the London Luau. And if you're there, be sure to say "Cheerio" to the King. (Kukulele, that is.)

Wonder what an English Tiki pub would be called. "The Aku and Umbrella"? "St. Martin Denny in the Fields"? Link (Thanks, Otto)

DQ Uke Featured on Paul Harvey

Page Three, Americans: Stand by for NEWS! Paul Harvey had a nice blurb about the sale of Warren Buffett's Dairy Queen uke yesterday. And how about this: Paul uses the Hawaiian pronunciation of 'ukulele! No malahini, him. Click on the following link, and fast forward to 9:35 into the broadcast. Link

Tabloid Jake? Ukes on Parade?

Jake Shimabukuro got a mention in yesterday's Parade Magazine. Celebrity news! Right after another "who's a vegetarian in Hollywood" Q&A... Link

Roy Smeck - Tiger Rag

Here's the Wizard of the Strings himself! Link

Golden Palace Casino Press Release

Here's the press release from the generous folks who bought the Dairy Queen Ukulele yesterday. Got to call them about the Shatner Uke... Link

Online Casino Wins Warren Buffett Ukulele Auction

From the news wires... Link

And the Winner Is....!

Children's Miracle Network, of course. But the winning bidder in the auction for Warren Buffett's Dairy Queen Ukulele appears to be Golden Palace Casino. You've heard of these guys:

Setting the standard in marketing creativity, GoldenPalace.com has devised some of the most exciting and outrageous advertising campaigns in the past few years. Recently, items such as the Virgin Mary Grilled Cheese Sandwich, Britney Spears’ Pregnancy Test, and William Shatner’s Kidney Stone, have garnered extensive worldwide media attention for the casino.

I'll have to contact them and see if they'd like to let me use this log to make a uke. I bet that uke would go for more than the $28,000 that Golden Casino paid for the Virgin Mary Grilled Cheese Sandwich! Or maybe I'll take ukulele jac's recent suggestion from over on the Flea Market Music Bulletin Board:

Posted By: Ukulelerealtor	Date: 5/22/2006 9:49:51 AM
So if we are debating the concept of auctioning a uke for charity and hoping that it will be played, what do you think the winning bidder (also for charity) did with William Shatner's kidney stone! LOL
Posted By: ukulele jac	Date: 5/22/2006 11:33:55 AM
i heard that Duane H. bought it and will carve it into a nut for a Star Trek theme uke. ;)

(This is the Duane H. of which he speaks.)

Mahalo again to Mr. Buffett and everyone who helped send over $11,000 to the Children's Miracle Network.

Hey, it's my birthday. Join the DQ Blizzard Fan Club and have a free 16 oz. Blizzard to celebrate with me!

Ukey Stardust! at Chabot Space and Science Center

Maybe I'll celebrate my birthday by going to this intriguing event at the Chabot Space and Science Center in Oakland, CA tomorrow:

Freak out in a moon-age daydream at Chabot Space & Science Center !Friday May 26, 2006 8:00pmParty under the stars in glam style at Chabot Space & Science Center with an unusual and unique live musical performance: The Rise and Fall of Uke-Y Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, presented by Ukulele Apocalypse ( Kelly McCubbin); including performances by Megan Lynch, Uni and her Ukulele, Tippy Canoe, 5 Cent Coffee, Henry and the Heymen, and Amy Zing on saw! That's right, it's the whole Ziggy Stardust album presented in its entirety, completely on ukulele! "

Zowie! (I mean, Bowie!) Link

eBay Page for Warren Buffett Dairy Queen Uke

Here's a link to Dairy Queen Ukulele on ebay. Only one day left to grab this fine uke signed by Warren "Five Fingers" Buffett! Come on, bid 'em up! Link

The Rumors are True!

Not only does Warren Buffett play the uke, he plays this uke! Designed by yours truly, built by the amazing Dave Talsma, and soon to grace the collection of some lucky bidder. Watch this space as we make Ukulele History! Link to Official Announcement

The Scrumpdillyishus Uke!

As part of the Dairy Queen Ukulele project, I enlisted the help of ace uker, Gerald Ross, to create some ukulele arrangements of the old Dairy Queen jingle, "A Scrumpdillyishus Day."

Gerald came thru in spades, and we presented Mr. Buffett with a CD (pictured) containing four of Gerald's arrangements, all performed, appropriately enough, on a Talsma uke! Following are links to the tracks. (That's Mr. Ross on all instruments.) Grab a Blizzard and enjoy!

1. “Crazier at the Brazier” (solo ukulele in A)

2. “Lullaby for Dennis the Menace” (solo ukulele in G)

3. “Grillin’ & Chillin’” (lead ukulele, rhythm uke, bass in C)

4. “Pineapple Shake” (lead ukulele, rhythm uke, bass in C)

If you don't own Gerald's incredible CD, "Ukulele Stomp," get one!

(Thanks, Gerald!)

British Playwright Does Formby

A new biography of British Playwright John Osborne reveals that he frequently sang George Formby song "with his little ukulele in his hands." Nudge, nudge. Wink, wink. Link

Brucie collects CBE from Palace

British TV host Bruce Forsyth was made a CBE this week. Successful entertainer, great-grandfather, married to a former Miss World. More evidence that playing the uke has its rewards. Link

Ukulele Revolution EP

Nipper has posted four uke-infused reggae tracks to the web. They're available as a free download. Burn them to disk, and you can also download a jewel case insert. Jam on, Nipper! Link

Uke-A-Loop

If you play a Flea or a Fluke, check out the Uke-A-Loop strap! I can't believe we haven't seen Tony Palomino on American Inventor! Link

Ukes in Washington

PUA (the Portland Ukulele Association) inspired folks north of the border (the Oregon border, that is) to take up the uke. I love the idea of the church performers calling themselves "The Gospel According to Uke." Link

Uke as Weapon?

Lucky he didn't use an accordion. Link

SLUGs, Unite!

Nice article about Karl Markl and the uke community in St. Louis. Link

Black Bear Ukuleles

Duane Heilman makes some of the most beautiful and eclectic ukes around. My friend Jim owns one of his (completely playable!) Picasso Ukes. Until now, you mostly had to troll ebay to see pictures of his work. He's now launched a web site. IMHO, one of the most remarkable aspects of Duane's instruments is his tuning knob work. He re-uses a wide variety of materials--including old bowling balls--to hand craft knobs. Need a uke with a mastadon ivory bridge? Duane's your guy! Link

Uke Players: Not Crackers

Apparently, ukulele players are not crackers. At least, not Stephin Merritt. According to this intresting article, having a Chihuahua named Irving Berlin helps, too. Link

Tony Gamble: Shred That Uke!

I there's ever a sequel to "Rock That Uke" perhaps it might be called "Shred That Uke." If so, Tony Gamble would be a shoo in to make the film. Check out music from his soon-to-be-released CD on his myspace page. Link

The PocketLele

From the folks that bring you the BoxaLele (see earlier post, below), here's the PocketLele:

The World's first Ukulele with its very own carry-along "Kangaroo Pouch," suitable for packing your songbook, extra strings, picks or whatever else you want to take
along. These solid mahogany, all-wood ukuleles are covered in a variety of lightweight designer themed fabrics, including our Jungle, Hula and Camouflage limited edition ukes, as well as our special edition Levis® 501K Daisy Duke Uke - complete with button fly, Levis® label and rear pocket.

Link

DQ Uke Auction Watched Anxiously by Press

A breathless world watches, and bids! (Ed. Note: The bidding has heated up significantly as of the time of our posting this.) Link

Uke Player Killed by Roadside Bomb

Our hearts go out to the friends and family of Sgt. Steve Makoto Sakoda, who was killed by a roadside bomb in Iraq on April 29, 2006. Link

Talsma Article

Dave Talsma, builder of the Dairy Queen Ukulele is the talk of the uke world. And now Flint, MI. Link

Not the Boss

This one's for Tekla Nee and Jon Greer. And the rest of you ukers on The Shore... Link

Spawn of Tim?

If Tiny Tim had a metalhead kid, this might be him. Scary, and entertaining at the same time. I kind of like his uke playing. Link

WORLD Magazine on the DQ Uke

Nice mention today on the World Magazine site. Link

More NY Uke Fest Pix

petershebib has posted plenty of images from the recent NY Ukefest. View them here.

The Uke and its Maker

Thought you'd like to see a photo of Dave Talsma, shown here as the proud papa of the Dairy Queen Ukulele. For those of you visiting Ukulelia who are not avid ukers, I think this shot gives you a nice sense of the scale of the instrument.

I think Dave had trouble parting with it. I know I did. And we were so afraid that Mr. Buffett would that we promised him a second one!

James Hill Workshop

James Hill, the "Wayne Gretsky of the ukulele," will be conducting a workshop in Scarborough, Ontario this Saturday, May 13, 2006. Link

Forbes.com on the DQ Uke!

Nice, wry write-up on Forbes.com today:

"Among the ranks of Don Ho, "Ohta-San," Arthur Godfrey and Tiny Tim, Buffett also enjoys strumming the pint-sized stringed instrument. And now you can play the very ax touched by the Oracle of Omaha himself."

Link

Go Green! Go White!

As a Michigan State alum, I am particularly taken to this custom green and white National. And my birthday is coming up later this month. Hint, hint!

Ukulele Noir 13

Mark has posted photos and music clips from Ukulele Noir 13, featuring Folk Uke, in addition to the usual unusual suspects... Link

Flea Market Music Bulletin Board Is Back!

Three Cheers for Jumpin' Jim! The FMM BB is back. Registration (free) required for posting, but reading is open to all. Link

Guadalupe Custom Strings

Lotsa folks are asking who made the colored strings for the Dairy Queen Uke. Here's the source! Link

Dairy Queen Ukulele Photo Gallery

I've posted a set of photos of the Dairy Queen Ukulele to my Flikr page. Perfect for viewing while you enjoy a nice Carmel MooLatte! Link

NY Uke Fest Pix

Courtesy of The Fabulous Heftones! If you have any posted to Flikr or elsewhere, drop me a line at the link above. Link

Ukulele Gazette

Yet another Uke Mag? Coming November '06 according to the site. Link

Calling all NY UkeFest Attendees

Ok, how about a report in from the NY Bureau? If you've posted pix from last weekend's event, please email Gary at the link above. In the meantime, here's James Hill. We hear he was on Tony Danza's show on Monday, but haven't yet found a clip.