Ukulele For Dummies (72 page)

Part VI

The Part of Tens

In this part . . .

I gather together a whole host of tips and info to help you develop your uke experience. You get to meet some famous ukulele players to inspire your playing, ranging from 100 years ago to the latest hit-makers. You also discover how to join the vibrant and welcoming ukulele social scene and take on board some hints to make the most of your practice time.

Chapter 20

Ten (Plus) Ukulele Players to Know

In This Chapter

Introducing some ukulele innovators

Popularising the ukulele

Meeting a few megastars

U
kulele musicians – both past and present – fundamentally shape the instrument's history and the music made on it. This chapter discusses ten of the most important acts to use a ukulele and what they did for the instrument, as well as some potential stars to watch out for.

Ernest Ka‘ai (1881–1962)

Ernest Ka‘ai was the second person ever inducted into the Ukulele Hall of Fame (after Hawaiian King David Kalakaua, who played a big part in popularizing the ukulele – see Chapter 1). Ka‘ai is almost unknown outside ukulele circles, but is incredibly important to the development of the instrument.

Ka‘ai is the originator of much of what the ukulele is today:

He was the first person to play both melody and chords on the ukulele at the same time.

His arrangements and techniques were, quite simply, ground-breaking.

He wrote the very first ukulele instructional book, in 1906, and went on to write a seven more.

Without Ka‘ai, the full range of the ukulele may never have been realised.

If you like Ernest Ka‘ai, check out John King, too. John King was a master ukulele player, teacher, historian and Hawaii enthusiast. Among his many books is
Famous Solos and Duets for Ukulele
, which includes tab for a number of Ernest Ka‘ai's pieces.

May Singhi Breen (1895–1970)

Plenty of people have called themselves the Ukulele Lady, but no one deserves the title more than May Singhi Breen. She played ukulele on a number of recordings and on her radio show of the 1920s and 1930s, ‘Sweethearts of the Air'. She also wrote a number of instruction books and is the reason why much of the sheet music from that time comes with ukulele chord diagrams for you to use.

As well as being a skilled player and teacher, she was a tireless promoter of the uke. When the American Federation of Musicians decided that the ukulele was a toy rather than a musical instrument, she immediately grabbed her uke and marched down there to change their minds. When they refused to even listen to her play, she sued them, and they eventually accepted the ukulele as a true musical instrument.

If you like May Singhi Breen, why not also check out Nellie McKay. Nellie McKay is a singer, songwriter, actress and comedian. Her songs are reminiscent of the 1920s and 1930s age, and she covers songs from that era, too.

Roy Smeck (1900–1994)

Roy Smeck was given the nickname Wizard of the Strings for good reason. This multi-instrumentalist was a master of guitar, lap-steel guitar, banjo, mandolin and, of course, ukulele. He was a huge star in the 1920s and 1930s and Thomas Edison recorded him playing. Smeck also performed at Franklin D. Roosevelt's inauguration and
His Pastimes
, a short movie of him playing multiple instruments (including uke), was one of the earliest sound films.

He pioneered some wild ukulele moves, including percussive banging on the ukulele body, spinning the ukulele round in the air and two-handed tapping (the sort of technique made popular on electric guitar some 60 years later by Eddie Van Halen).

Smeck's fame saw him release a number of instruction books and endorse many ukuleles. The most famous to bear his name is the tear-drop-shaped Vita uke, a design still popular today.

If you like Roy Smeck, have a listen to Bob Brozman as well. Bob Brozman is another virtuoso on guitar, lap-steel, ukulele and more. His music is based in jazz and blues but brings in influences from across the world. Listen to his signature uke tune, ‘Ukulele Spaghetti'.

George Formby (1904–1961)

George Formby was a massive star of British music halls in the 1930s and 1940s. So much so that he's still the person most identified with the ukulele in the UK, even though he didn't often play the ukulele but the banjolele (a ukulele with the body of a banjo). The George Formby Society is still going strong today and has counted George Harrison as a member.

Formby's style of playing was heavily rhythmical and he made effective use of triplet strums and split strokes. His comedic songs may not have aged too gracefully but his blistering ukulele solos are as exciting as ever.

If you like George Formby, check out Garfunkel and Oates. Like Formby, this pair of comedy actors (Riki Lindhome and Kate Micucci) combine comedic acting with a string of hilarious, off-colour songs. Micucci provides the ukulele and is familiar from her role as the ukulele-playing Stephanie Gooch in the US TV series
Scrubs
.

The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain (1985–)

The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain (UOGB for short) formed in London in 1985. Their first few albums contained a number of, sometimes wildly avant-garde, originals. But they gradually settled into arranging pop, jazz and classical songs for the ukulele. In the process they popularised the idea of a bunch of friends getting together to bash out cover versions of songs on the uke, setting the template for ukulele groups across the globe.

They've built up a huge and loyal following in Europe with their coupling of light-hearted humour and impressive musicianship. They sold out the Royal Albert Hall when they appeared as part of
the Proms
(a series of usually serious classical music concerts).

If you like the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain, try seeking out the Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra, too. New Zealand's answer to the UOGB includes a number of people who are professional musicians in their own right, most notably Bret McKenzie from Flight of the Conchords. They play a similar mix of popular songs arranged for a whole troop of ukes.

Israel Kamakawiwo‘ole (1959–1997)

Getting away from Israel Kamakawiwo‘ole's cover of ‘Over the Rainbow' seems pretty difficult. After all, the recording's been used in numerous films (including
50 First Dates
and
Meet Joe Black
), TV shows (such as
Scrubs
) and an endless stream of adverts (from eToys to Lynx deodorant). Laid back yet full of soul, the performance has become the embodiment of the Hawaiian sound: he's made the song a ukulele classic.

But restricting IZ (as he's referred to by everyone relieved at not having to spell Kamakawiwo‘ole) to just one song would be quite wrong. Starting out his career with the group Makaha Sons of Ni‘ihau before striking out on his own, IZ became the foremost proponent of
Jawaiian music
: a blend of reggae and the gentle, acoustic Hawaiian sound.

If you like Israel Kamakawiwo'ole, check out Paula Fuga. Like IZ, Paula Fuga combines Hawaiian music with laidback reggae vibes and a stunning voice.

Jake Shimabukuro (1976–)

Jake Shimabukuro's performance of George Harrison's ‘While My Guitar Gently Weeps' is the defining piece of the current ukulele boom. Originally performed for Midnight Ukulele Disco, the video has become a YouTube sensation and launched his international career.

As well as releasing a string of solo albums, he has played with a diverse range of artists from banjo virtuoso Bela Fleck to classical cellist Yo-Yo Ma to Cyndi Lauper and Bette Midler.

Shimabukuro is the most influential ukulele soloist of all time. Often imitated, he takes a wide range of influences himself and even includes Bruce Lee and Bill Cosby as major contributors to his musical philosophy.

If you like Jake Shimabukuro, another name to watch out for is Kalei Gamiao. Jake has no shortage of people following in his footsteps and none is more stunning than Kalei Gamiao. Take a listen to his tune ‘Mach 5' – then pick your jaw off the floor.