Shimabukuro and Alan Parsons Collaborate on New CD

Jake is collaborating with Alan Parsons. This should be interesting. Link

Elderly Instruments 40th Anniversary Lanikai Tenor

I bought my first uke at Elderly Instruments back in 1981 when they were still in East Lansing, across Grand River Ave. from the MSU campus. The uke in question was a Hohner Soprano, which is sitting right next to me as I type this. I remember distinctly that there was a Style 3 Gibson in the store at the same time, and that one of the employees urged me to buy it. It was a sweet uke, he said. But, alas, being a poor college student at the time, I felt it would be extravagant to plunk down $85 for a uke. So I went with the Hohner. It was $19.

Elderly is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, and Lanikai has released a special flame maple tenor model to commemorate the event. Edition limited to 300. I'm sure it sounds way better than my Hohner. But man, that Gibson was sweet. Link

RIP Junior Seau

From the Fretboard Journal:

"The world knew him as one of the greatest linebackers to ever play football. What some may not know is that Junior Seau was also a ukulele player and enthusiast."

Link