Ben Smith and His Uke

Here's a new (old) one for me. I'd not heard of Ben Smith before, but here he is, playing a song he co-wrote, "I'm Looking for a Union Sweetheart."

I haven't located the sheet music for this chestnut yet. But here's a cover that features Smith as a performer:

Now I have a wee suspicion that this is not Ben playing the uke. The label reads "Ben Smith and His Uke." But here's a recording from the same year (1925) featuring May Singhi Breen on ukulele: "You Gave All Your Kisses to Somebody Else" (It's mistakenly listed as "What a Life.

What do you think? Are both recordings May?

Ernest Kaai's Hawaiian Troubadours in New Zealand, 1927

Here's a postcard from 'ukulele legend Ernest Ka'ai's tour of New Zealand in 1927. According to the National Library of New Zealand:

A night in Honolulu". Town Hall, Greytown. Tuesday November 22 [1927]

The troupe appears to have visited the Wellington area in November 1927. The Ephemera collection also contains a programme for a performance at Wellington in April 1925, but this postcard is 1927, based on a perpetual calendar." 

  

Link to image.

Here's a link to the cover of a program from an earlier date at the Grand Opera House in Wellington. 

Apparently Ka'ai spent quite a bit of time in NZ. Here he's quoted with regard to a 1911 tour. Link

And a portrait from the same year:

MR ERNEST KAAI. 

Director of the Royal Hawaiian Concert and Musical Organisation, 

and the finest .Mandolin and Ukulele player in the world.

Aloha, Bonanza Ukuleles

Luthier Pete Mai has announced that he'll be shuttering Bonanza Ukuleles. Some stock remains for sale, but no new orders are being taken.

Snip:

As we reach the ten-year milestone with Bonanza Ukuleles, we find ourselves reflecting on a decade filled with creativity, friendship, and unforgettable memories. It is with a mixture of gratitude and wistfulness that we announce the conclusion of our journey.

Over the past ten years, we have had the privilege of building not just instruments, but also a community of passionate ukulele enthusiasts. Your unwavering support and enthusiasm have been the cornerstone of our success, and we are deeply thankful for each and every one of you.

A special note of thanks goes to Pete McCarty, whose early encouragement provided the spark that ignited our journey. Pete was not only our first customer but has remained a stalwart supporter thr"oughout the years. It is fitting that our final build will be for him, closing this chapter as it began—with Pete.

We also extend our heartfelt gratitude to Barry Maz and Got A Ukulele for their honest and insightful reviews. Barry’s work has helped us gain a loyal following and has been instrumental in spreading the word about Bonanza Ukuleles. Thank you for your dedication and support.

During our time, we have crafted over 1150 instruments, each one a labor of love and dedication. Our ukuleles have found homes in China, Australia, Europe, the United States, and Canada, connecting us with a global family of musicians and aficionados. Your love for our instruments has inspired us every step of the way.

As we say goodbye, we do so with a deep sense of fulfillment and gratitude. The friendships we have made and the memories we have forged will remain with us forever. Thank you for being a part of our journey and for allowing us to be a part of yours.

We will be keeping the website open for a couple of weeks to sell off our remaining inventory. 

I have a few orders left to complete, but we won’t be taking any new orders.

With heartfelt thanks and warmest wishes,

The Bonanza Ukuleles Team

Shelley, Pete , and Tony Mai