Upwood Ukuleles Christmas Video 2023 - Walking in the Air

My friend and fellow JHUI Mentor Carol Hudson shared this amazing Christmas Video with me. 

Featuring the members of Upwood Ukuleles from Cambridgeshire, UK, and produced by Tim "Tim'll Fix It" Howard, the video features the ensemble performing Walking in the Air, from the 1982 animated holiday classic The Snowman.

Upwood Ukuleles' designated charity is Magpas Air Ambulance. Thus far, they've raised almost £66,000! Well done!

If you'd like to donate to Magpas Air Ambulance on behalf of Upwood Ukuleles, here's a link.

Arlo Claus: Updated

A dashing Arlo Guthrie wishing everyone Happy Holidays!

(Anyone recognize the make of his uke?)

Link

h/t to Howlin’ Hobbit for identifying the instrument as a Pegasus. 

Here’s an update from Arlo:

“ The holiday instrument of choice. Concert is between a soprano and a tenor size ukulele. This one was made by Pegasus Bob on the big island of Hawaii. Bob said he'd used some special koa wood he'd been saving. I was thrilled.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/folkslinger/53402170542

That's Doctor Muir, Thank You...

Cheers to newly-minted Doctor Samantha Muir, who recently earned her PhD from University of Surrey. 

Sam is the first person in history known to have earned a doctorate in 'ukulele! 

Here's Sam's doctoral thesis. I can't wait to read it...

New Works for Classical Ukulele - University of Surrey

And if you don't know Sam and her work, here's her website. I'm working through a couple of her Studies books with my students who've suddenly developed an interest in classical music. Her arrangements are really great. Link

Video tutorials and demonstrations, too. 

(And btw, Sam's Little Book of Giulani does not contain The Four Seasons...)

Gofundme for Dave Talsma

An update on luthier Dave Talsma, who today is having his 11th surgery following a motorcycle accident a few weeks ago. 

Denise Talsma reports that Dave remains in good spirits and is making progress like a champ. TALSMASTRONG!

If you're a fan of Dave and his work, you can help Dave and Denise out with a gift of support during Dave's surgeries and recovery. Here's the Gofundme page where you can make a donation: Link

And it being October now, here's a Halloween treat. Dave's Jack Skellington camp style ukulele!

Aloha, Jimmy

 With the passing of Jimmy Buffett earlier this week, we were reminded of of a couple of his memorable ukulele performances.

Here is an appearance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon...

Jimmy making a surprise appearance with his cousin Warren at a Berkshire Hathaway event for MBA students. Stay through the end for Warren's remarks...

Jimmy was also instrumental in introducing Jake Shimabukuro to Parrotheads. Here's a nice little clip of Jake telling the story of Jimmy inviting him to sit in with the band.

And a little of Jimmy singing Jake's praises...

Have another memory to share? Post it in the comments.

Dave Talsma Recovering from Motorcycle Accident

Sending much aloha to our friend and master luthier Dave Talsma, who is recovering from a recent motorcycle accident.

It seems his injuries were significant, but that he's making progress and is remaining in good spirits.

Love, too, to his wife Denise and the entire Talsma family.

If you'd like to send Dave a card, here is his mailing address:

7550 Church Street 

Swartz Creek, Michigan 48473

If you don't yet know Dave's work, check it out now. He's the genius builder of the legendary Warren Buffett Dairy Queen Ukulele. Amazing work, and truly fine player's instruments. Link

Ford Hawaiians in Ukulele Magazine

Pleased to announce that fellow ukulele educator and bon vivant Jim D'Ville and I have an article in the Fall, 2023 issue of Ukulele Magazine.

Jim moved to my boyhood environs (The Motor City) a while ago and I asked him if he was aware that Henry Ford was instrumental (ahem) in popularizing Hawaiian Music. Jim was not, and thus began a little research project, the fruits of which you can read for yourself in Issue 42. 

The topline is that Henry Ford was smitten by the music played by Henry Kailimai and his ensemble at the 1915 Pan Pacific Exposition in San Francisco. So much so that he hired the band after the PPIE closed, renamed them "Ford's Hawaiians" and moved them to Detroit.

I've written about Henry Kailimai and Ford's Hawaiians (aka "Ford Hawaiians") previously (golly, 18 years ago), but sadly most of the related links are dead.

But here are links to recordings by Ford's Hawaiians (not included in the magazine article) for your enjoyment!

Ford Hawaiians at Archive.org

Ford Hawaiians at the UCSC Cylinder Archive

Here is their discography on Edison Diamond Discs

If you don't already subscribe to Ukulele Magazine (and you really should, you know), you can buy issue 42 here: Link

Mahalo nui loa to Peter T. Young for his research and excellent article on Ford Hawaiians. Also to Jim Tranquada and the late John King for their pieces on Kailimai and Ford in their seminal The 'Ukulele: A History. And to the archivists at the Benson Ford Research Center at The Henry Ford museum.

Aloha, Pineapple Princess

We have learned of the passing of Pamela Schulting, one-half (with Beth Allen) of the early Third-Wave ukulele duo, Pineapple Princess.

Pineapple Princess was featured in the 2003 documentary "Rock That Uke" by our friend Bill Robertson.

"Pineapple Princess is a San Francisco-based electric punk uke duo who play raucously scatalogical anthems to booze and sex.  The duo is comprised of Beth Allen, a former bassist for the punk band The Loudmouths, and Pamela Schulting, a school teacher and highly accomplished hula dancer with the Na Lei Hulu I Ka Wekiu dance troupe."

 If you haven't seen Rock That Uke, do yourself a favor and check it out. Especially if you weren't around before the 'uke went mainstream, and only true kooks (guilty) were strumming...

The film's YouTube site is here. Buy the DVD here.

Earlier Ukulelia post here: Link

At Auction: Aaron Keim Kingdom Era 'Ukulele

Master luthier Aaron Keim has been devoting his energies to learning early building techniques. He recently traveled to Hawai'i to study period instruments and research materials with the goal of building instruments true to the earliest designs. He's built two to date, and the second is currently on eBay at auction. He'll use the proceeds to fund a future research trip back to Hawai'i and will share a portion of the proceeds with the non-profit Saving Hawaii's Forests (link may not work: their site seems to be down).

Sez Aaron:

"This is the second instrument I’ve made as part of my Kingdom Era Ukulele project, where I have been researching the original instruments made in Hawaii in the 1890’s. I used the same hand tools, techniques and most of the same materials as the instruments I examined in the Bishop Museum and in Shawn’s collection from ukulelefriend.com.  The body, neck and fretboard are made from Koa from our friend’s sawmill on Oahu.  I made the rope binding from Maple, Cherry, Walnut and Mahogany.  It is soprano scale, with a flat fretboard and white side dots. In order to be more comfortable for modern players, I’ve used geared Peghed tuners, fluorocarbon strings and small fret wire. The ukulele is finished with shellac and wax. It comes with a handmade case made in the old style from Mahogany scraps with rope binding and Kapa style cloth."

Bidding ends Wednesday, May 24th, 2023. Just in time for my birthday (hint, hint).

Link to eBay Auction

World's Best Arrangement of Wagon Wheel (The World's Best Ukulele Song of All Time)

Unless you just picked up the ukulele for the first time this morning, you know that the very best song you can play is Wagon Wheel, co-written by Bob Dylan (perhaps most remembered for Wiggle Wiggle) and Ketch Secor of Old Crow Medicine Show.

With its awesome and completely original chord progression, Wagon Wheel is sadly rarely played today, which is really sad, because it it indisputably The World's Best Ukulele Song of All Time. 

Here is a link to the Very Best Recording Ever. And, finally, for your enjoyment today, the World's Best Arrangement of The World's Best Ukulele Song of All Time.

Enjoy!

Photo credit: Countryside Antiques and Primitives

Cuttle Up a Little Closer

Check out this cephalopod chordophone! Link

Cary Kelly over at Mya-Moe Ukuleles recently completed this custom Sycamore Tenor Cutaway (Cuttle-away?) featuring a sweet squid graphic etched onto the soundboard via pyrography. The pyrograph here was done by Dumitru “Dino” Muradian, who was profiled in the Fall, 2020 issue of Ukulele Magazine.

Cary says he's now built three ukes with pyrography on the soundboard. Victoria Vox owns one, which she uses for both recording and performances. He notes that he hasn't noticed any adverse affect on tone: "I’ve heard some argue that it opens up the soundboard, much like torrefied soundboards, but I’m not fully convinced of that."

By the way, I was so captivated by this design that it took me a couple of weeks to realize that it's a left-hand set-up.

I wonder if there's ever been a Kala-Mari uke...

The Secret of the Ukulele Finally Revealed!

I'm proud as punch to share that the good folks at Ukulele Magazine interviewed me for their Spring 2023 issue.

It's a great honor to recognized for having edited this little blog for over 20 (!) years and to have been able to chronicle, in particular, the early years of this Third Wave of ukulele popularity.

If you've come here via the profile in Ukulele Magazine: welcome! (And if you're not yet a subscriber, it's a terrific publication. I look forward to it arriving in my mailbox four times a year. You really should subscribe. It's about the cost of two sets of strings...)

A big thank you to Blair Jackson at Ukulele Magazine for the opportunity. Also to Craig Robertson, who was a treasured co-editor for a few years. And finally, to Mark Frauenfelder, who created Ukulelia (Your Passport to Four Stringed Paradise!) as an offshoot of Boing Boing back in the late 90s before generously handing me the keys in the early 00s.

I guess now I have to be a bit more diligent about turning up more remarkable stuff to share. It's a real challenge to find hidden treasures today. Stay tuned!

Here's the issue. Spoiler: I'm on the back page.

And as for that clickbait headline: it's a little inside joke for my friends who constantly remind me how bad I am at self-promotion...

Ready When You Are!

My friend and fellow JHUI alum Bryan LaPlante reminded me today of this 1975  documentary from the National Film Board of Canada, featuring Godfather of the Canadian 'Ukulele Movement, J. Chalmers Doane and 1,000 Halifax school children playing Mac Davis's I Believe in Music. Bonus: "rather critical lack of bathroom facilities." Stream "Ready When You Are" at this link.

And there's more: Melanie Doane's tribute to Mac Davis, featuring the kids from the 1970s and her students from the Doane Uschool. Link

Of course, while you're at it, you really should watch Melanie's Ukulele U on the CBC.

Ukulele Heroes: Deborah Guarnieri

Central New York instructor and innovator Deborah Guarnieri has developed adaptive technologies to allow people with upper limb disabilities to play the ukulele.

(Photo

As this article by Mike Jaquays from the Rome Sentinel explains:

"With the use of accoutrements like hub straps, waist straps, finger splints and other accessories, the Ukulele Support System has given people of all ages around the world the ability to play the ukulele. And all the parts she uses to modify the ukuleles are readily available to anyone, Guarneiri added.

Her Ukulele Support System is now under the umbrella of the Ukulele Kids Club of America and Guarneiri has created her own local CLUES Ukulele Club that meets at the Canastota and Oneida public libraries that help in her mission. CLUES is an acronym for Canastota Library Ukulele Extraordinary Strummers."

Here is Deb being interviewed on WSYR's Bridge Street, demonstrating several of her inventions. For more background and videos, here's an interview on WXXI from 2019. Follow the work that Deb, local club members, and other heroes around the world do to make the ukulele accessible on the Ukulele Support System for upper limb disabilities Facebook Page.

The Okee Dokee Brothers are Truly Okee Dokee

Today a student asked to work on a song I wasn't familiar with. The song is "If You Want a Song," by the Okee Dokee Brothers. Now, I'd heard of this duo before and liked their music a lot, but I'd forgotten about them. 

The aforementioned (and Grammy-winning) "brothers" are Joe Mailander and Justin Lansing, and are based in Minnesota. Together, they write and perform American-roots style, kid-and-parent friendly songs.

What makes them Okee Dokee in my book is that they not only feature the occasional uke in their songs (or sing about them–see below), but that they offer free download files of their lyrics and chords.

Check out the video of the song my student requested and watch for a cameo by Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer!

And for your winter strumming pleasure, here is the very charming "Ukulele in a Snowstorm."

Visit the Okee Dokee Brothers Website