Happy 103, Uncle Bill!

We wish Bill Tapia a very happy 103rd birthday, tomorrow, January 1st, 2011. Link

Roger Ebert Tweets Uke

A new year's resolution from Roger Ebert, via twitter:

"Resolve to learn the ukulele in 2011. http://amzn.to/hT3nDd"

And since Roger is into tweeting, here's the perfect tune to add to his repertoire. Link

(Thanks, Amy!)

Cocoleles

More cocoanut ukuleles than you can shake a monkey at. In French. Link

Merry Christmas

Better late than never: here's our list of links to all the Christmas music for ukulele you could possibly need. The Ukulelia Holiday Songbook.

The Everly Pregnant Brothers

Meet the Everly Pregnant Brothers. They seem to be the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain's scruffy northern relatives. I love their cheeky style, from their logo (why didn't anyone think of that before?) to their homage to Madness to their mod portraits (by illustrator Steven Millington aka Lord Dunsby). Link

Jake Brings His Adz

Here's a track from Jake Shimabukuro's upcoming new release Peace Love Ukulele. It's entitled "Bring Your Adz". Link

Pre-Christmas Monsoon

My old pal (and the guy who taught me my first tune on the uke) Tuba Heatherton's tribute to sunny California. Maybe he should have stayed in Islands where he was born. Rhode Island, that is.

Ukulele Lou

An old chestnut performed by Vernon Dalhart, Frank Kamplain and Anthony Franchini on an Edison cylinder recording. Link

December, 1955

No, I don't think you're flat. But I think your G-string may be slipping. Link

Livin' in the Sunlight-Lovin' in the Moonlight

Okay, okay, it's Tiny Tim. But Herbert was nothing if not a walking Tin Pan Alley encyclopedia. Here's his version of the Al Lewis/Al Sherman classic Livin' in the Sunlight-Lovin' in the Moonlight. It's a fun tune, and features a chord I don't think I've ever run across: an F74♮3 (4310). You'll find a Paul Whiteman recording here and the sheet music here. (And a real swell version here.)

Michael Powers: Urban Ukulele Project

Check out Seattle jazz guitarist Michael Powers' foray into ukeland on his CD Urban Ukulele. Some really cool jazzy and funky stuff here. Link