Saturday, September 29, 2007

Happy 100th Birthday, Lyda!

Lyda Fischer of Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, will be celebrating her 100th birthday on Sunday. More proof of the ukulele's life-sustaining powers. (Maybe we should set her up with Tappy?)

If you live in or near Beaver Dam, give a call over to the Golden LivingCenter and see if you can drop by and sing Lyda "Happy Birthday" and play her a few tunes. She went to school with Fred MacMurray, so I'll bet she has some good stories to tell. Link

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

You really know you’ve made it when…


…your show poster is hung over the plumbing fixture.

By the way, it was really a great show.

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

Ukulele Noir Tonight!


Craig Robertson, Greg Hawkes, Mark Occhionero, Robert Wheeler, Ian Schwartz and the Incomparable Bliss Blood from New York…all happening tonight in Somerville, Massachussetts.

Put on your pointy shoes and come out.


September Noir.

Monday, September 24, 2007

Stumbling In

Aloha,

From time-to-time we get a lot of hits via StumbleUpon.

If you have happened to stumble upon us in this way, would you please leave a comment via the link immediately below this post and let me know what was so darn interesting to you? Maybe it's something we should post more about, so let us know!

Sunday, September 16, 2007

YouTube - Jake Shimabukuro Live - San Francisco Ukulele Festival 2007


Stephen Becker points us to his son's video of Jake performing "Gently Weeps" from last Saturday's festival in San Francisco. Many other videos at YouTube as well. Enjoy! Link

(Thanks, Stephen!)

Boat Paddle Ukuleles

Boat Paddle Ukuleles of New Haven, Missouri makes a line of ukes with a unique, modified pineapple body design. Perfect for playing this song, made popular by native Missourian, Cliff Edwards. Link

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

Gerald's New CD


This just in from Gerald Ross! A new CD from the master of smooth…

“It's my first new CD in two years. I'm really proud of it!
Everything works on the disc - my performances, the recording quality, the artwork.”


go get it.

Monday, September 10, 2007

SFist Hearts Jake

Shoots. And I was stuck at home installing towel bars... Link

Saturday, September 08, 2007

Another Shot of the NYUkes

NY Ukulele Ensemble and the Art of the March


Ukulelia Professor and Chair of the Department of Storytelling Uke Jackson sent us the following narrative:
Aloha Gary,

I don't think it's an exaggeration to say that the New York Ukulele Ensemble was a huge hit today as we marched in the 3rd Annual Art Parade, Sponsored by Deitch Art Projects. Our set list:

You Are My Sunshine
Bei Mir Bist du Schoen
Cigarettes, Whiskey and Wild, Wild Women
I Want Candy
Walk Right In
Wot, no "These Ukes Were Made for Walkin'"?

Jake Brings Down The Herbst

Caught Jake Shimabukuro's sold-out performance last night at the Herbst Theatre in San Francisco. He bought down the house in his customary style, and I picked up a few news items to pass along.

First, Jake will be releasing a new "mini album" of 6 cover songs on September 18, 2007. Included will be the Lennon/McCartney classic "In My Life," which Jake played last night. Also to be released on DVD on September 18th is "Hula Girls," a Japanese film for which Jake wrote the musical score. (It's currently playing at the 4 Star Theatre in San Francicso.)

Jake also let slip the fact that as a kid he frequently over-indulged in Shirley Temple cocktails. His song, "Me and Shirley T" was inspired by his sugar-infused addiction, and he joked that only recently learned that Shirley Temple is a real person. I wonder if he knows that she plays the uke. (Bill Tapia taught her!).

Nice press for the event! Link

And mahalo nui loa to Stephen Becker for the ticket!



Friday, September 07, 2007

Kimo Hussey Workshop and Concert Sunday

Mike DaSilva sez:

On Sunday, September 9, 2007 Kimo Hussey will deliver an afternoon workshop and evening concert at DaSilva Ukulele Co. If you play Hawaiian music, you are sure to know the "He Mele Aloha" songbook (dark blue cover) co-authored by Kimo Hussey. As a founder of the Pacific Music Foundation, Kimo is well versed in providing a rich educational experience with the ukulele. Don't miss the opportunity to spend the afternoon with one of the top Hawaiian music educators. Then after a short dinner break, Kimo will provide us with some "soothing" Hawaiian tunes in a concert to closeout what is sure to be a memorable ukulele weekend.

Workshop 3-5pm. $25. Concert 7:30-9:00pm $15. DaSilva Ukulele Co. 2547 8th Street, #28. Berkeley, CA 94710 Call 510 649-1548 or email Mike: mike AT ukemaker DOT com. Directions are on the Calendar page at www.ukemaker.com.

See you there!


(Thanks, Mike!)

Tuesday, September 04, 2007

San Francisco 'Ukulele Festival

Need an excuse to visit San Francisco this weekend? Look no further!

This Saturday, September 8, 2007, from 11am to 4pm, the San Francisco 'Ukulele Festival will be held at the Esplanade at Yerba Buena Gardens.
"Featuring "uke-centric" Hawaiian, Tin Pan Alley, pop and country music, including The UFOs, Al Dodge and the Tin Pan Haoles, The Paper Dolls, Tippy Canoe and the Paddlemen, Faith Ako, slack-key guitarist Carey Camacho, The Victor Ohana Band, Kimo Hussey and Ho'omalie, 'Ukulele Ray, The Frisky Frolics and Ka Ehu Kai and very special guest stars!"

And don't forget to swing by the Uke Exhibit at the Museum of Craft and Folk Art right across the street. Link

Tessie Sez...


Folks at my office were always forgetting to take their front door keys when popping down to Peet's for a caffeine fix. So I appointed Tessie O'Shea to be Tesser's official hall monitor (Tessie, Tesser. Works, don't it?).
 
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