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SPOTLIGHT •
Now, the ukulele is hip – and enthusiasm ginner, Michele DuBarry, of Belmont. Now starts with a lesson for beginners, and then has been growing for more than a decade. in her 60s, DuBarry says she always want- the group branches into folk songs, classiAccording to market and consumer re- ed to get involved in music again after cal music, oldies and even contemporary search firm Statista, sales of ukuleles in briefly studying the viola at age eight. “I pop hits by artists such as Ariana Grande the U.S. soared to 1.77 million in 2018, up play air guitar like anything,” she laughs, and Justin Bieber. (Information about the from 501,000 in 2009. Locally, staff at Gelb and was pleased that after one lesson with PUGs is available at www.facebook.com/ Music in Redwood City and Clock Tower Clock Tower teacher Mike Ehlers, she peninsulaukulelegroup. The organization Music in San Carlos estimate they collec- could play “Clementine,” which requires should not be confused with another Pentively sell around 900 ukuleles a year. just two chords. (“Row, Row, Row Your insula Ukulele Group, in New Zealand.) The 700 PUGS Boat” takes just one, which can be played Ukulele-playing spans generations; Ehlers says his students range literally On the Internet, YouTube brims with with a single finger.) performances ranging from those of virtu- Beyond instant gratification, low pric- from seven to 70 years old. For players above 55 years of age, the oso Jake Shimabukuro to kids’ Avenidas Ukulele Band at laptop-recorded versions of the Avenidas Village setheir favorite pop tunes. The nior-citizen center in Palo Peninsula Ukulele Group, Alto focuses on older adults. known as the PUGs, counts Founded by Redwood City more than 700 members, and residents Edward and P.A. an event in Santa Cruz called Moore, the Avenidas group “Burning Uke” (in a turn on holds twice-monthly jam the “Burning Man” festival in sessions that typically attract Nevada) sells out each Separound 20 participants. tember. Another source of the What’s going on? ukulele’s continuing popu Brian Kimmel, who with Ukelele teachers P.A and Edward Moore larity, says Edward Moore, his wife Susan owns Clock Tower Music, and Mike Craig “The instrument itself is small and portable, and it is that the instrument “has crept into the mainstream of Gelb Music both say the ukulele is the perfect starter doesn’t require a lot of hand strength to produce of media.” In a current television for someone who wants to try the chords.” commercial for Hawaii’s playing music. “The instrument itself is small and es offer another attraction. Whereas a be- Kona Brewing Company, actors David portable, and it doesn’t require a lot of ginner’s electric guitar and a small amplifi- Bell and Blake “Brutus” LaBenz pose as hand strength to produce the chords,” er cost around $200, a rock-bottom, plastic two Hawaiian “bruddahs” who ask why Kimmel observes. “And the chords are so ukulele retails for just under $40 in the each day features just one “happy hour,” simplified that you can often play a three- Kimmels’ shop. Serviceable wooden mod- while LaBenz strums a ukulele. Meanchord song with just one or two fingers.” els start at around $50. At the other end of while, pop-music hits by singers such as Adds Craig, “It’s not as intimidating the scale, premium ukes crafted from exot- Jason Mraz (“I’m Yours”), Paul McCartney (as a guitar). We see with a lot of custom- ic woods such as Hawaiian koa can bring (“Ram On”) and Taylor Swift (“Fearless”) have all included the ukulele. The late forers who come in, they look at a guitar and up to $5,000. mer Beatle George Harrison was a big ukua ukulele, and for whatever reason, the Social Time ukulele looks like it’s not as challenging or Then there’s the social aspect. Ukulele lele fan, and Shimabukuro’s ukulele cover the mountain is not as high.” players like to get together. Amelia Lin of of Harrison’s “While My Guitar Gently While Brian Kimmel was commenting the PUGs says monthly meetups at the Bel- Weeps” has generated nearly 1.5 million for this article, Clock Tower co-owner Su- mont and Woodside libraries draw an av- views on YouTube. san Kimmel sold a ukulele to a musical be- erage of 40 to 60 musicians. Each gathering
24 · CLIMATE · May 2020