Review: Kala Waterman Ukuleles Revive the Island Spirit
With its Waterman series of plastic ukes, Kala is banking on the enduring appeal of the inexpensive Islander ukes made by the millions in the ’50s and ’60s.
Graziano Selmer Style Uke tenor boasts a unique voice
Graziano Selmer Style tenorCalifornia luthier Tony Graziano began making instruments in 1969, and since 1995, the affable Santa Cruz-based builder has been focusing almost exclusively on making ukuleles for enthusiasts and professional players. Though he offers several standard models, most…
Danielle Ate the Sandwich delivers a compelling documentary soundtrack
Edith Lake Wilkinson was a talented painter who graced the Provincetown, Massachusetts, art scene in the early 20th century and created a remarkable portfolio of work. Wilkinson was committed to an asylum in 1924—thanks in large part to a corrupt…
Ukulele Club of Chinatown in San Francisco
In the heart of San Francisco’s bustling Chinatown district, the largest Chinese community outside Asia, the Ukulele Club of Chinatown meets to celebrate music from America and China. The club is organized by the Chinese Congregational Church, one of the…
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San Francisco’s Uke-a-Thon honors the 100th anniversary of the 1915 Panama Pacific International Exposition
February 20th marked the 100th anniversary of the 1915 Panama Pacific International Exposition (PPIE),the event that first brought uke mania to the mainland. To honor the occasion, San Francisco hosted a Uke-a-Thon on February 21, 2015 at the Palace of Fine Arts.…
Inside the World of Custom Ukuleles
We just might be in the golden era for ukulele making, and a custom ukulele may very well be more affordable than you think
Sid Hausman needs lots of land—and a ukulele, too
“Most Western songs have a lot of chords,” says the ukulele-playing cowboy Sid Hausman. “Ukes are perfect for that.”
Kimo Hussey Discusses New Album
The esteemed uke player and teacher Kimo Hussey has a delightful new 12-song set, Low G, that showcases the unique harmonic possibilities of playing in low-G tuning. More than a terrific listen, the album is also intended as a “means…
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Rock Journalist Sylvie Simmons Turns Uke Troubadour
BY WHITNEY PHANEUF Lifting a cup of tea to her mouth, Sylvie Simmons pauses and grins in the middle of a story about how Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich used to bum around her Laurel Canyon apartment “like a little Doberman…
Summer 2015
Sylvie Simmons makes the transition from rock journalist to ukulele troubadour; Sid Hausman revives cowboy swing; what you need to know about custom ukes; historian Tom Walsh reflects on classical uke master John King; and a pictorial essay on San…