Great Ukes: The 8-String Martin Taropatch Paved the Way for Larger Ukes
An early ukulele cousin is the taropatch, an instrument with eight strings set in four courses of two strings each
Happy 4th of July: Watch Jake Shimabukuro Play ‘America the Beautiful’
By Greg Olwell On our soundtrack for the Fourth of July is this rendition of “America the Beautiful” by Jake Shimabukuro. Competing with Jake’s sensitive playing here is the location: Garden of the Gods a National Natural Landmark in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Happy 4th of July: Learn to Play ‘Stars and Stripes Forever’ on Your Ukulele!
Stars and Stripes Forever | Music by John Philip Sousa, Arranged by Marcy Marxer Enjoy this arrangement of “Stars and Stripes Forever,” which was inspired by Jesse Kalima. Thank you to Jesse Kalima Jr. for his time and generosity of information as well…
UKE SCENE: San Francisco
From the Summer 2017 issue of Ukulele | BY UKULENNY San Francisco, land of rumbling cable cars, sourdough bread bowls, and Tony Bennett’s voice ringing in the night sky after a Giant’s baseball game at AT&T Park. It may not…
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Watch Iz Kamakawiwo’ole Perform ‘White Sandy Beach of Hawaii’
By Greg Olwell On the 20th anniversary of his death on June 26, 1997, we are thinking of the legendary Iz Kamakawiwo’ole. In this official video for “White Sandy Beach of Hawaii” off his 1993 album Facing Future, Bruddah Iz performs his rendition on…
Three-Ring Circus of Four-String Delirium: The 2017 Ukulele Festival of Scotland
By Jim D’Ville // Photos by James Millar and Linda Grist D’Ville As an American who has never been to Scotland, arriving at the Ukulele Festival of Scotland was like entering a magical, musical ukulele utopia. This year’s festival took place…
Why I Uke: Herb Ohta Jr. on His Playing Style and Musical Inspirations
Herb Ohta Jr. is a sought-after Na Hoku Hanohano award-winner, acclaimed for his fresh interpretations of Hawaiian songs and engaging, melodic compositions.
Singer Stuns on Talent Show
By Greg Olwell “After I lost my hearing, I gave up,” said Mandy Harvey, as she stood in front of the judges of a popular television talent show to introduce her song “Try,” adding, “But I want to do more…
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A Historic Martin Ukulele Visits the Arctic and is Signed by Edison, Coolidge, and Lindbergh
From the Summer 2017 issue of Ukulele | BY TOM WALSH The most carefully examined ukulele in the world is on display in the Martin Guitar Museum and Visitor Center in Nazareth, Pennsylvania. Known as the “Konter” ukulele, this unassuming…
A Visit to the 2017 Ashokan Ukulele Festival
By Jim D’Ville /// Photos by Stewart Dean, imagovitae.org Just 100 miles north of the cacophony that is New York City, lie the tranquil Catskills Mountains, home to the Ashokan Ukulele Festival. Now in its fifth year, the festival is held…