Goddess of Uke: May Singhi Breen, The Ukulele Lady
May Singhi Breen, "The Ukulele Lady," got the New York Musician's Union to include the ukulele on its list of instruments and created a teaching method for the instrument on the mainland.
Stories
Eden & John‘s East River String Band are Masters of the Old Groove
Eden & John‘s East River String Band, with artist R. Crumb as a member playing ukulele, resuscitates obscure old blues, early country, jug band, and the occasional pop tune.
Remembering Bruddah Iz: 25 Years After his Death, Israel Kamakawiwo‘ole Still Melts Hearts and Inspires
Iz will always be most remembered for his voice & ukulele medley of two great American standards: “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and “What a Wonderful World.”
The 1920s Ukulele Craze Coincided with the Rapid Rise of American Football
The rise of ukulele popularity in the 1920s coincided with the Golden Age of Spectator Sports, as shown by the vintage ukes shown here.
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Harp Ukulele Specialist Gracie Terzian Has Followed Her Own Road
Though her debut album hit #3 on the Billboard Jazz chart, harp ukulele specialist Gracie Terzian describes her musical endeavors as a singer-songwriter in more of the folk genre, with jazz harmonies.
Repairing, Restoring, and Building Ukuleles with a ‘Quiet Giant’ of Lutherie, Kerry Char
Char Lutheries, in Portland Oregon, is the name of Kerry Char's one-man shop where he repairs, restores and builds custom ukuleles with exacting precision and passion.
Jonah Kumalae was the First Hawaiian Uke Maker to Make it Big on the Mainland
The first big windfall for Kumalae came in 1915, when he won a bid to display ukuleles in the Hawaiian Building at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco.
‘Anyone Can Play The Ukulele’: How J. Chalmers Doane Promoted Ukulele as Canada’s Primary Musical Education Tool
Since the 1960s, J. Chalmers Doane has had great success promoting the ukulele as Canada's primary instrument for beginning musical education. Here's how he did it.
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Hangin’ in Nashville with Uke Rockers Bob’s Your Uncle
Nashville band Bob’s Your Uncle says it is not a ukulele band; it is a band that uses ukuleles. The lead uke is supported by bass, percussion, guitar and accordion.
How Ukulele Teachers are Cultivating a New Generation of Players
Teaching ukulele in the classroom began with J. Chalmers Doane in the early '70s, and has exploded in popularity now with new classroom-focused ukulele books and certification programs.