Jake Shimabukuro Songbook

Jake's first book of song transcriptions Peace Love Ukulele will be released on February 7th. Just in time to give your sweetie for V-Day. Songs included:

• Bohemian Rhapsody
• Boy Meets Girl
• Bring Your Adz
• Five Dollars Unleaded 2010
• Go For Broke
• Hallelujah
• Hula Girl
• 143 (Kelly's Song) 2011
• Pianoforte 2010
• Trapped 2010
• Ukulele Bros.
• Variation On A Dance 2010
• While My Guitar Gently Weeps

Pre-order here.

Mystery Uke from NAMM

Hey, NAMM attendees: anyone remember who made this uke? If so, please drop me a note at gpeare AT hotmail DOT com. Mahalo.

Ben from U900

They're so darn cute. Now they're playing Ben from the movie Willard. Maybe it could be someone's campaign video?

Kamaka at NAMM

Musicguymic interviews Casey Kamaka on the new ukuleles at NAMM.

Jake Plowing for Famers

Jake is now the spokes-strummer for Farmers Insurance in Hawaii. I'm sure it pays better than uking. Sadly. Link

UPDATE: Here's a TV commercial featuring Jake:

Warren Buffett Plays Ukulele, Sings 'I've Been Working On The Railroad' For China's New Year Gala

Story and (out of synch) video over on the Huffington Post about Warren Buffet appearing as part of a New Year's gala in China. Link

NAMM 2012

Tim over at Ukeeku has uploaded a full-day's worth of photos from the NAMM show. I am SO mad I didn't take a day off and go. Some really exciting stuff to be seen. I'll try and point to some highlights later. In the meantime, enjoy this feed.

Martin Ukulele Shirt

I may not be able to afford one of the new Martin ukes, but I could scrape together enough for one of these new Martin ukulele aloha shirts. Link

New Martins at NAMM

I'll take one of each, please. Link

NAMM Show 2012

Kamaka stunners from the NAMM Show, going on now. Link

Knitted Ukulele Cases

Do you knit? On intimate terms with someone who does? Then check out these cute knitted/felted ukulele bags designed by Wendy Bernard.

"The Soprano version is small and flirty like its namesake, Betty Draper; the Tenor version is simple and sporty like the girl we named it after: Gidget. Add a purchased or re-purposed purse handle and you can take your ukulele anywhere. The optional pocket is a handy place to store your tuner."

Instructions are here at this link on knitty.com.

Hot Girls with Ukuleles

An aptly-named Tumblr set. Warning: Some NSFW images. Link

Hawai'i 1948

Photo of a young woman strumming a ukulele. Photograph by Eliot Elisofon. Honolulu, Hawaii, USA, January 1948. I've seen this around the web of late, but the image was reversed (unless there was a ukulele luthier named nitraM that I'm not aware of). So I've fixed it. Great shot, isn't it?

Theme From Love Story

A friendly reminder that Valentine's Day is less than a month off. h/t to Rob Bourassa for the link.

Folk Uke Down Under

Here's a video performance and interview by Cathy Guthrie and Amy Nelson, aka Folk Uke, from Noise11 in Australia. I love "Quattro Momento" from their new CD Reincarnation. I also love their cover of Harry Nilsson's "He Needs Me" from his Popeye soundtrack. Link

Vintage Ukulele Photos

This guy has a Facebook album with just about every vintage ukulele photo I've ever run across. Perhaps he has UPAS (Ukulele Photo Acquisition Syndrome). Link

Make a $10 Ukulele Stand

Over at Ukulele Underground, Aldine shows you how to make your own ukulele stand out of PVC pipe and foam insulation for less than $10. Neat! Link