Ukelele — seriously? Not a toy, a joke, or a prop

Liberal Arts Blog — Thursday is Joy of Music Day

The “ukelele” (Hawaiian for “jumping flea”) looks like a miniature guitar with four strings. It is a late 19th century Hawaiian adaptation of a Portuguese instrument called the machete, brought by immigrants from Madeira and the Azores. King Kalakaua (1836–1891) was a huge fan. Today — three samples. First, the incomparable Israel “IZ” Kamakawiwo’le’s take on “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” Second, Jake Shimabukuro’s cover of George Harrison’s “While My Guitar Gently Weeps.” Third, Tiny Tim’s “Tip Toe Through the Tulips.” Experts — please chime in. Correct, elaborate, elucidate.

ISRAEL “IZ” KAMAKAWIWO’LE (1959–1997) “SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW”

1. Kamakawiwo’le is probably the most famous Hawaiian musician of all time. He was also a champion of Hawaiian independence.

2. The Youtube video of his cover of “Somewhere over the Rainbow” has 847 million views.

3. He was plagued with obesity, reaching a weight of 747 pounds and died very young — 38 years old.

NB: “The Hawaii state flag flew at half-staff on the day of his funeral… His koa wood coffin lay in state at the state capitol building in Honolulu… the only non-government official to be so honored.”

OFFICIAL Somewhere over the Rainbow — Israel “IZ” Kamakawiwoʻole

JAKE SHIMABUKURO (1976 — ) — VIRTUOSO — “WHILE MY GUITAR GENTLY WEEPS”

1. Shimabukuro is a fifth generation Japanese American from Honolulu.

2. He signed with Sony Music in 2002 but his popularity soared when a Youtube video of him playing “While My Guitar Gently Weeped” went viral in 2006.

3. His solo album “Peace, Love, Ukelele” reached #1 in Billboard’s World Music Albums in 2011 and 2012

Ukulele weeps by Jake Shimabukuro

TINY TIM (1932–1996) — “TIP TOE THROUGH THE TULIPS”

1. The only ukelele song I can remember from my youth.

2. Tiny Tim’s real name: Herbert Buckingham Khaury. He was the grandson of a rabbi from Belarus on his mother’s side and the grandson of a Maronite Christian priest from Lebanon on his father’s.

3. He is perhaps best remembered for his high falsetto voice.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcSlcNfThUA

BACKGROUND ON THE KAMAKAWIWO’LE, SHIMABUKURO, AND TINY TIM

Israel Kamakawiwoʻole

Jake Shimabukuro

Jake Shimabukuro — Peace, Love, Ukulele “Bring Your Adz”

Tiny Tim (musician)

BACKGROUND ON THE UKELELE AND HAWAIIAN MUSIC:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukulele

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_of_Hawaii