This week on the Sing Out! Radio Magazine we feature music played on the ukulele.
The ukulele was introduced to Hawaii by Portuguese immigrants from the Azores in the late 19th century. The name is literally translated as a Jumping Flea because of the rapid strumming style used to play the instrument.
The ukulele was introduced to the US at the Panama Pacific International Exposition held in San Francisco in 1915. The instrument became very popular in the mid 1920’s due to a number of players in vaudeville shows.
The instrument’s popularity waned after the 1960’s but regained favor in the 1990’s with a number of new makers constructing instrument in many styles and colors.
This week we’ll sample tunes from the earliest days of ukulele recording to today’s talented players.

LISTEN:

Artist / “Title” / CD / Label

Pete Seeger / “If I Had A Hammer”(excerpt) / Songs of Hope and Struggle / Smithsonian Folkways
Gerald Ross / “Honeysuckle Rose” / Swing Ukulele / Uke Tone
Mme. Riviere”s Hawaiians (the Moes) / “La Lupe Ua Sola” / Vintage Hawaiian Music-The Great Singers1928-1934 / Rounder
Johnny Marvin with William Carola / “12th Street Rag” / Legends of the Ukulele / Rhino
Kalama’s Quartet / “On the Beach at Waikiki” / Early Hawaiian Classics / Arhoolie
Opihi Pickers / “Stars and Stripes Forever” / Legends of the Ukulele / Nana Ola

Da Costa Woltz’s Southern Broadcasters (Price Goodson) / “Be Kind to a Man When H’s Down” / Da Costa Woltz’s Southern Broadcasters & Frank Jenkins 1927-1929 / Document
The Double Decker String Band / “Paddy on the Turnpike” / The Rest is Yet to Come / 5 String
Eden & John’s East River String Band / “Twelve Pound Daddy” / Be Kind to a Man When He’s Down Self Produced
The Motor City Sidestrokers / “Beedle Um Bum” / Strokin’ / Self Produced
Gerald Ross / “Cocktails for Two” / Swing ukulele / Uke Tone

Jake Shimabukuro / “Blue Haiku” / Nashville Sessions / JS Records
Louise Goffin / “Main Street Parade” / Songs From the Mine / Majority of One
Stuart Fuchs / “The Window Cleaner” / Stukulele / Kala

The Springtails / “I Can’t Give You Anything But Love” / Rain or Shine / Self Produced
Manitoba Hal Brolund / “Let The Mermaids Flirt With Me” / Flirtin’ With Mermaids / Hal’s Kitchen
Daniel Ho / “Cookie Hula” / Aukahi (Flowing Harmony) / Self Produced
Pete Seeger / “If I Had A Hammer”(excerpt) / Songs of Hope and Struggle / Smithsonian Folkways