Ukulele Ladies
Exploring Some Early Ukulele Method Books and the Women Who Authored Them
There were a huge number of ukulele methods and songbooks published during the first nationwide surge in ukulele interest between 1915 and 1930. The vast majority were written by men — but books by women were not unheard of. This article takes a closer look at a few of these method books, and the remarkable women behind them.
Singing Senators and Ukulele Hitters
The Ukulele–Baseball Connection
The ʻukulele has been around for almost as long as Major League baseball, and the little instrument has been linked to "America's Pastime" on numerous occasions throughout their respective histories. From Babe Ruth's friendship with the Ukulele Lady to the Singing Senators of the 1950s, the connections are surprisingly deep.
Unusual Ukuleles: Echo Ukes and the "Echo Device"
"Echo Uke" was a brand name of the Hawaiian Mahogany Company, a Honolulu ukulele manufacturer in the 1920s. Some of their instruments included a mysterious internal device — strips of thin metal attached inside the top — whose purpose remains debated and whose patent has never been found.
Mystery! — Who was Doc Morris?
We recently acquired a pair of ukuleles formerly owned by Ralph "Doc" Morris — a name that was unknown to us. But the remarkable items found inside the cases revealed a fascinating figure: a performer, radio personality, and ukulele teacher active in the Los Angeles area from the 1920s through the 1950s. The Duke of the Uke.