Ukulele in a Snowstorm

Ukulele Zen Master Stu Fuchs brings us this warm greeting on a very cold World Play Your Ukulele Day. For many parts of the country, this weather is a Fluke, and so is Stu's uke. Link

And if you don't know the Okie Dokie Brothers, you should. Here's their original version, from their Grammy nominated album, Winterland. They're fantastic, and also wonderful humans, as they have the lyrics and chords for their songs posted to their website so everyone can join in. Link 

Hoagy Carmichael on Uke

We recently stumbled across a clip of Hoagy Carmichael strumming the uke in the 1952 movie "Belles on Their Toes." In the scene, a clambake, Hoagy strums and sings while Debra Paget dances. (Ms. Paget is still with us at 92 at the time of this writing!)

The tune is Richard Whiting and Raymond Egan's classic Japanese Sandman. Clearly, Hoagy knows how to play, but it's not clear whether that's him or another musician on the soundtrack. Fair warning: racial stereotyping at the video link. Link

If you'd prefer to just enjoy Hoagy and his ukulele, sans the racism, here is a painting of him from an unspecified movie role from the Hoagy Carmichael Collection at Indiana University.

Yukel and His Ukulele

A hit for composer Louis Gilrod in 1926. We hope that one of our readers who knows Yiddish will help us out with a translation of the lyrics!

Via University of Wisconsin - Madison

Link

Update: Here's a second recording by Aaron Lebedeff (mit nein yukeleile)

Another Update: That's May Singhi Breen playing the yukeleile on the Bessie Weissman recording! h/t Josh Gordon

Warren Buffett Moves to Full Time Uke Player Status

Everyone here at Ukulelia wishing Mr. Buffett the very best for a well-earned retirement and a smooth transition to full-time ukulele player.

Shown here with his Talsma Dairy Queen Soprano, designed by yours truly. Photo: Paul Morigi/Getty.

Story on NPR