Rick Turner and Tony Graziano Discussing Ukes (Jayme with the JuJu)

More stalwarts of the Ukulele Club of Santa Cruz talking uke...

More Jayme Kelly Curtis JuJu...

Nina also made this video of the UCSC tribute to Bill Tapia

Castro Theater, San Francisco || Ukulele Fun Time

Here's Eileen S's video of the World Record attempt for the largest ukulele gathering. It starts off with a portion of the Santa Cruz contingent loading up on the bus. Andy Andrews leads the show. While Ukulele Dick and Jayme Kelly Curtis get some great footage. We also get to Uni and her Ukulele. Perhaps you're in the footage too -- who knows? Eileen is a percussionist with the Son's of the Beach in Santa Cruz. The Mighty Uke film was also shown and you hear Andy call it the greatest ukulele film ever.

VIEWER ALERT! This was shot in the Castro District of S.F. and you never know what may happen on the streets of San Francisco and it does! So if some nudity bothers you then stop the video at precisely 12:00 minutes! VIEWER ALERT!

San Francisco World Record Attempt...

London's record is safe for now. I see many familiar faces in here and I'm sure it was another moment of ukulele player comraderie and bliss. Jean, from the Berkeley Ukulele Club has a nice little cameo appearance. Ukulele Dick is amazing as always.

Burning Uke 8 (2010) THE CELEBRATION (Part 3)

Jay Holiday's Burning Uke Sculpture in Full Flaming Glory!

There is anticipation Saturday afternoon as the sun starts to set. Sandor’s wife had written a vintage radio-style play and several people had gotten on stage to entertain those seated up along the slope. The play was about a stowaway woman and male uke playing waiter and had us all enjoying the retro feel of those young black and white Doris Day style silly movies. There were a few crooner moments and a hula dance for good course.

Then we move into a variety of musical performances. Some of these came directly from Carolee’s class earlier in the day. Some songs were from the Ukulele Club of Santa Cruz song books I and II. [Andy Andrews was on stage and said that there wouldn’t be a UCSC book III but that he is working on a new book I for his students in Hawaii. Andy mentioned that 20 ukuleles had been donated to the group by __________ ukulele company that he had seen the previous week at the Wine Country Ukulele Festival. Andy’s group in Hawaii was in need of their own instruments and he’s hoping to get some music stands, books and tuners from small donations from those who are able to contribute.]

Burning Uke also includes a ceremony. This was a new year and a new beginning. Andy and Pam Andrews had moved to Hawaii. Peter and Donna Thomas were travelling the country in their caravan. There was a void which Sandor, Marty, and Jay Holiday ably continued the tradition. Jay Holiday is a quiet guy behind the scenes. And there is a long story about Jay and his guitar friends meeting at this Burning Uke location several years before Burning Uke came into being. Jay and his musical friends get together here for Thanksgiving each year and celebrate. One year Pam and Andy were camping and walked by the musical festivities carrying their ukuleles… There is more to the story but this was the spark which led to the Burning Ukes.

[Some of you that have followed my personal journey over the last two years know that I was driving 82 miles to Santa Cruz for a ten class course with Rhan Wilson last year. Jay and his very good friend Robbie were in the class too. So I have had the pleasure of getting to know Jay, his sense of humor, his jukebox mind-full-of-memorized songs and his devotion to music in his life.]

There were tiki torches being lit by Robbie behind the mass of players. Soon a small procession of people came single file dancing and wiggling their torches and heading up to the front between the stage and all of the seated players. Much craziness ensued but finally the group of tiki torch holders assembled close to the large black steel ukulele sculpture and lit the flammable portions.As you can see it was a glorious image and the crowd roared at the flaming metal ukulele. The Burning Uke image you see was the brainchild and blacksmith work of Jay to create a new burning uke.

So how do you follow up the ceremony? Well you play more music until a proper musical cue was reached and Andy spoke, “Goodnight Ukulele Club of Santa Cruz” about 10:30pm. Some headed off for sleep and others head upwards towards the firepit and played until about 1:00am. Yes, the firepit music time is essential for the die-hards. Some songs were played by heart, or by music book, or shared song sheet. Andy in his infinite wisdom dazzled us with his singing to a one chord song played solely in Eb.

I am hoping to find a few pictures or videos of this evening to share.

Robbie (L), Jay (Behind), Jeff aka HU (R)

Ukulele Santa Cruz

Collectors Addition: Wayward ukers Andy Andrews & Peter Thomas tiptoe-ing thru tides

http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/ci_11365375

More tastes of Santa Cruz Uking

http://ninakoocherfilm.com/boardwalk.html

Andy & Pam Andrews are surely barefoot on the beaches of Hawaii...

About three years ago, Andy Andrews invited me to come over to his home to take a look at his ukulele room before the Ukulele Club of Santa Cruz meeting. I was eager to see his ukulele collection and to play some of his Martin ukuleles. I asked him if it would be okay to take some pictures and as always he welcomed me to enjoy as I wished, while he prepared some club work on his computer before the meeting.

Have you ever been in a room full of ukuleles? Covering all four walls as completely as possible. Andy welcomed me to try any of the ukuleles and I was really enamored with Martin ukuleles at the time, so I played a few while sitting in the center of the room.

Well, all of the instruments resonate and vibrate, as vibrations are released from the played instrument. It is a very good feeling. Strange, perhaps these subtle vibrations also resonate our bodies and make us feel more peaceful.


Andy and Pam are now in their Hawaiian Island home. During my ukulele room visit, Andy showed me a stick-model of his future home. It was complete with a ukulele outside above the front door. I had taken a picture of it but I can't find it now. They had a strong dream and they worked to make it come true.

The ukulele club was about music and fun. Andy and Pam were frequently dancing of in the corner behind the entertainer's dining table. Pam would also join in the Hula Dancing when Hawaiian tunes were played.

Did you notice these ukulele pictures? Quite a collection. Andy said that there were about 200. But that wasn't all. There were several books of sheet music in plastic sleeves. Piles of photos and uke collectibles everywhere. He also told me there where other collectors in Santa Cruz with 200 and 300 ukuleles.

The ukulele at the lower right has a body shaped like an island -- Can't remember if it was of the Big Island of Hawaii or not.

He had quite a collection. I believe many of these are now sold or part of a collection for a ukulele museum somewhere. Look at those swirls of color on those plastic ukes. A black Dominoe uke, a Victory uke, and several Harmony ukes among many other makers.

I want to close by saying thank you to Andy and Pam for letting me be a part of their uke family.

The Ukulele Club of Santa Cruz...

Anyone that knows me very well knows that I try to get to Santa Cruz every month for the gathering at Bocchi's Cellar. The meeting is usually the 3rd Thursday of every month but it is wise to get on their mailing list because it is Santa Cruz and we want to keep Santa Cruz weird and not to predictable. This club is full of love, mostly love. May sound a bit silly to some but I have been travelling down to the "Love Shack" that is known as the Ukulele Club of Santa Cruz because of the people.

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This club has just gone through a change, Peter and Donna, "The President and the First Lady," are gone on their book binding caravan travels for 6 months. Andy and Pam Andrews have now made their journey over to their new house in Hawaii. Wild and crazy were their ways. Peter also played the harmonica and Andy wailed on his saxophone. Andy and Pam danced in the heaven of each other's arms. Donna almost always knitted, but occassionally pulled out the recorder or sang. I will never forget Andy's generous spirit, "Spread the love" seemed to be his motto.

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So, Thursday April 15, 2010 was the first meeting of a new era. Sandor, Rhan & Marty are now leading the masses. And what a spectacular beginning. The dining time house band was lead by Rhan Wilson and great as usual. The house was packed full and more people were trying to find seating as the evening moved on.

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The song selection had a Blue theme: Blue Moon, My Blue Heaven, Blue Hawaii, Lovesick Blues, Blue Eyes Cryin' in the Rain, and Blue Moon of Kentucky. But the energy was cheerful and festive. We continue to socialize, celebrate and SHOW OUR UKES. Sandor, Marty, Rhan and Vince "S.C." Tuzzi led us in the play alongs.

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Last night, I sat at the table in the corner by the bar with Bob "Duh Dog" Rainey, Tomi, and Dr. John B. John leads a ukulele group in Lancaster which in southern California and drives 5 hours one-way almost every month. We had two lady newbies, Diane and Susan that came ukeless but we gave them our ukes and surely overloaded them with information.

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I brought my Balalaika that I restrung with Worth medium brown strings and tuned C-E-A. Bob Rainey who always likes something new - played a few Blue songs worth on it. I call it a Bala-uke-a. The uke club is a also a place for the great kindergarten tradition of Show-n-Tell. The newest ukes are always fun to check out.

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The FANTASTIC evening show was headlined by our very own amazing Ukulele Dick and supported by the lovely Jayme Kelly Curtis and ROMP. Romp is comprised of Rhan, Olaf, Matt and the ever popular P-P-P-Patty M-M-Maxine. Sandor (shawn-door) also joined in to play some of the UkeAholics Beatles and Elvis tunes! I think Jan even got in there for some harmonica melodies.

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Back to the love. Next month, May 2010, will be another Open Mic Night. If you have ever considered doing an open mic night, then this is the safest and most supportive club in the world, every skill level is encouraged, supported and applauded. Share the love, feel the love, come and play.

PLAY UKULELE by EAR || Jim D'Ville || Interview of Andy Andrews

I met Jim briefly one evening at the Burning Uke VII. Click the title above to see an abbreviated interview with Andy Andrews of the Ukulele Club of Santa Cruz. His Play Ukulele by Ear blog has grown since my last look. He has some "3 Question Interviews" including one with Lyle Ritz where he discloses, shhhhhh!, his favorite chord!

http://playukulelebyear.blogspot.com/

Andy Andrews, John King, Jim Beloff

There are some wonderful recollections of John King in words and YT videos being posted on websites and blogs. Mike DaSilva, http://www.ukemaker.com/ , posted this fun video of Andy Andrews singing Annie Lennox's Talk to Me, with John King playing background and then soloing. Jim Beloff (he's big in Japan) makes a cameo appearance in this video too.

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Andy Andrews, is such an amazing spirit, he has amazing energy and is always incredibly welcoming. I love this video. Andy is a ukulele and ukulele memorabilia collector. He invited me down to his home once and I had the pleasure of sitting in his "uke room". It was that kid in the candy store feeling. Over 200 ukuleles, perhaps 20 Martins. He welcomed me to sit and explore while he took care of putting club song arrangements at his computer in another room.

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There is a wonderful vibration that happens when you're playing a ukulele and you can feel and hear the vibrations of 200 songboxes all facing you and vibrating back. I also explored books of ukulele sheet music and collections of ukulele player photos. I could have easily spent a day exploring and playing.