At age 43 after ten years of trying to memorize banjo tab and then play it back, my wife’s grandmother gave me a 70 year old Columbia Hawaiian soprano ukulele that had been in her closet for more than 50 years. To please grandma, I took the uke and bought an instruction book. But I was tired of memorizing music out of books!
Ukulele Instructor, artist, musician, professional, all around sweet gal.
Dani Joy aka DaniUkulele, is a California singer/songwriter who croons her melodies and picks the ukulele with a smoky lounge allure. She is a gifted teacher at The Strum Shop and is a member of the River City Ukulele Orchestra, as well as an active ambassador for the Ukes for Schools Program.
Danielle Ate the Sandwich, is the stage name of pop-folk songwriter, Danielle Anderson. Based in Fort Collins, Colorado, Danielle has been touring nationally since 2009 after cultivating an online following from her homemade videos on Youtube and her unique style of online marketing that brings her music to the audience she affectionately refers to as “Fanwiches.” in September 2016, Danielle Ate the Sandwich released her 6th full length album, “The Terrible Dinner Guest,” recorded in Norfolk, VA, and supported by a fan funded Kickstarter campaign.
Dead Mans Uke are a two man band playing dirt swing, hokum and old blues tunes as well as crazy covers and anything else they fancy on double bass and a resonator ukulele that belonged to Tiny Tim... they play shows in bars, music venues, parties, festivals and theatres across the UK and recently in Prague, Dublin, Austria, Paris and even Las Vegas.
Mary Lou fell in love with its gentle harp like sound. In the fall of 1998, she accepted an invitation to attend a Ukulele Seminar at Harvard University in Boston. She is a member of the Ukulele Hall of Fame Museum and the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI). Several books written by Mary Lou, published by Mel Bay Publications Incorporated are: Easy Ukulele Method Book 1, Easy Ukulele Method Book 2, Sacred Music for the Ukulele with play along CD and the Easy Baritone Ukulele Method Book One. The books are designed to enable anyone, regardless of their musical background, to play music in minutes without reading music by using the tablature method. Her love of the ukulele and desire to share the joy of playing music led her to found the Louisville Ukulele Association Unlimited (LUAU).
Abe Deshotel, aka Ukulele Abe, amplifies the experiences of life with his ukulele. Seeing and feeling positivity in the world around him, he captures this essence in his songwriting. Defying what you think the ukulele can do, he creates a full sound to capture a wide spectrum of human emotion, from peaceful innocence to profound joy.
There is a mystical detour along the road of American Roots Music, right before genres had drawn lines in the sand proclaiming this to be "bluegrass" or that to be "honky-tonk". The lines were imposed during the advance of technology with the likes of 78 record players and radio coming into fashion. It was a great melting pot of swing, blues, jazz, and old-time country where all manner of musicians would simply play popular music, seemingly without apology or without being hemmed in by commercial restriction. You would hear rural outfits playing their own version of jazz or polished urban swing bands performing rustic mountain music. County by county, region by region, state by state, music would adapt, shift and morph to take on the fabric of its surroundings.
Moe Dixon is a familiar name on the festival and concert club circuit. In performances across North America and Europe, Moe is best known for his ability to create an energy that brings people together through song. Thousands of listeners have become loyal fans. His magical performances are highlighted by masterful guitar playing and powerful vocals.
Moe’s poetic song-writing is filled with his optimistic vision of life. With a lifestyle of skiing, kayaking, windsurfing, golfing or mountain biking (profiled in Lance Secretan’s book !nspire! What Great Leaders Do, on page 91), his inspiration comes from his sense of adventure and his willingness to fully live his Destiny, Cause and Calling. Every audience absorbs and expands on Moe’s unique energy and each performance becomes a celebration.
Commitment to education, dedication, long-term outstanding leadership as a cultural educator, excellence in skills in the education of both individuals and groups, in the performing art of music, innovation and creativity are truly characteristics of J. Chalmers Doane. Once called “The Pied Piper of Halifax”, Nova Scotia native Chalmers Doane opened the doors to the magic of music for hundreds of children. From 1967 to 1985, Chalmers emerged as an imaginative and dynamic supervisor of music in the Halifax school system, introducing one of the largest string programs in the country, consistent instrumental classes taught by specialists, and award winning stage bands.
Phil is one of the most recognizable players on the UK ukulele scene, and has been at the forefront of the ukulele revival for the last 10 years (possibly longer, see the photo on the right!) A ‘player’s player’, he is in demand for festivals (both as a performer and as a workshop leader), theater and club gigs, and private events in the UK and Europe. He has appeared on several albums, performed on radio and TV, and has shared the stage with some of the world’s finest players.
A little about me: Primarily a self taught guitarist, pursuing the ukulele for approximately six years, I have spent the last couple of years concentrating on the ukulele. Not being able to find tablature for the ukulele in the same quality and format as was (and still is) available for the guitar is the motivation behind this site. Since books containing ukulele tab were not available, I decided I would try to transcribe the songs myself and make them available for others to learn from as well.
The Durham Ukulele Orchestra is a genre busting ensemble whose love for music is rivaled only by the love they have for their favorite little instrument. Skillfully blending selections from the great American songbook, the best of classic rock, and a bit of the indie-alternative scene, the Durham Ukulele Orchestra has fashioned a sound that is both unique and foot-stompingly entertaining. So if the only thing a ukulele reminds you of is tiptoeing through the tulips, come let the Durham Ukulele Orchestra give you a new point of reference.
Formed in 2007, the Durham Ukulele Orchestra organically grew out of the ukulele jam session held at High Strung Violins and Guitars (and ukuleles!) on the first and third Mondays of every month. Upon forming, a weekly practice was organized and the band began to mix together their wide range of tastes and influences into a cohesive and delicious “musical soup†that ranges from jazz standards to art rock classics like Psycho Killer by The Talking Heads.
Al Duvall, a grandchild of the Great Depression, was one of many unemployed musicians in 1932 who was sent via time machine into the future to find work, as part of the WPA program. His timing couldn't have been better, for IN TIMES LIKE THESE (SM) we could all use an entertainer whose charm and musicianship once made the Great Depression so great. Hopefully, Al will bring a little bit of Depression to you with his cloud-scattering mirth.