The Ukulele - A Visual History is a fun, photo-filled look at the ongoing story of this diminutive musical instrument. It features color photographs of the finest and most unique ukuleles; the history of the ukulele; the great ukulele players: Ukulele Ike, Arthur Godfrey, Roy Smeck, Ohta San, Tiny Tim, and others; the great ukulele makers; and the uke in popular cultural: the uke in Hollywood, the ukulele craze, witty advertisements, and whimsical sheet music covers.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Library Journal
Often seen as a toy instrument, the ukulele has nonetheless influenced the pop music landscape. Bilboard editor Beloff offers an entertaining look at this whimsical, diminutive instrument and an elaborate showcase of rare ukuleles, famous players and manufacturers, and witty memorabilia and artwork. He traces the instrument's evolution from its 19th-century roots to current ukulele festivals in Hawaii and beyond. Splashed with bright illustrations and 200 photographs, the book entices fans of musical instruments and pop culture alike to follow the ukulele from Hawaii to the mainland, where the island craze and "uke" fad began in 1915. Also included are reference lists of ukulele song titles, method/songbooks, and essential recordings as well as a resource guide. Well written and enjoyable, this book will have library patrons tiptoeing through the tulips. The only book of its kind available, it is highly recommended.?Eric C. Shoaf, Brown Univ. Lib., Providence
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
Miller Freeman's musical-instrument showcases are all nifty, none more so than Beloff's tribute to the four-string device that is an indelible emblem of Hawaii. The uke, known as the braguinha in its native Madeira, arrived at the island paradise in the nineteenth century. The Hawaiian royal family took a shine to it; eventually, the tourists did, too; and the rest Beloff relays in chapters on uke history, on great players (including reigning virtuoso Ohta-San, 1920s pop singer Cliff Edwards [later the voice of Jiminy Cricket], British music hall superstar George Formby, early TV star Arthur Godfrey, and, yes, the late Tiny Tim), and on uke manufacturers and their wares. The text is dandy, and the pictures, snazzily laid out and all in color, of ukes, uke players, and uke paraphernalia make this picture-on-every-page album one of the most eyeballable (so to speak) books around. Ray Olson
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Superlative rendering of Ukulele History! Onolicious!,
By A Customer
This review is from: The Ukulele: A Visual History (Paperback)
Jim Beloff's book, "The Ukulele:A Visual History", is a wonderful compilation of facts and pictures of this facinating instrument. One of the reasons I liked it was because there are no recent books out about Hawaiian musicians. The ukulele is irrevocably tied to Hawaiian music and musicians; their heritage and their history. I recently purchased a ukulele and I found this book a great resource for understanding the original ukulele makers as well finding a modern luthier to suit my needs. Its a fast and facinating read and a "must-have" for any ukulele buff.
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
a visual knock-out - a must read for ukulele fans,
By A Customer
This review is from: The Ukulele: A Visual History (Paperback)
This is a remarkable book for anyone who enjoys musical instraments, old and new. Great history of the old uke makers and players. A frascinating book with GREAT pictures
5 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Some nice pictures,
This review is from: The Ukulele: A Visual History (Paperback)
This book has some nice pictures and makes for great coffee table fodder. The historical details and other bits are quite underdeveloped, although the biographical bits are a nice, if sketchy, touch. Not very informative, either in part or whole, but it does have some nice pictures.
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Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
The ukulele is actually the descendant of a Portuguese musical instrument known as the braguinha or, less commonly, machete de braga, Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
the ukulele Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Arthur Godfrey, Tiny Tim, Manuel Nunes, Roy Sakuma, Tin Pan Alley, New York, Ukulele Ike, Augusto Dias, May Singhi Breen, Johnny Marvin, Bing Crosby, Ukulele Festival, Los Angeles, Queen Lili'uokalani, Major Kealakai, Miss Vicky, Panama Pacific International Exposition, Warner Bros New!
Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
The ukulele is actually the descendant of a Portuguese musical instrument known as the braguinha or, less commonly, machete de braga, Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
the ukulele Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Arthur Godfrey, Tiny Tim, Manuel Nunes, Roy Sakuma, Tin Pan Alley, New York, Ukulele Ike, Augusto Dias, May Singhi Breen, Johnny Marvin, Bing Crosby, Ukulele Festival, Los Angeles, Queen Lili'uokalani, Major Kealakai, Miss Vicky, Panama Pacific International Exposition, Warner Bros New!
Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 9
books:
See all 9 books this book cites
3
books
cite this book:
- New Grove Dictionary by Sadie in Back Matter
- Old and New (Read All about It) by Steck-Vaughn Company on page 20
- Some Like It Hot by Dan Auiler on page 37
- Fascinating Rhythm by Gershwin on page 58
- The Hawaiian Shirt by H.T. Steele in Back Matter
See all 9 books this book cites
- This Must Be the Place: The Adventures of Talking Heads in the Twentieth Century by David Bowman in Back Matter
- Honor Killing: How the Infamous "Massie Affair" Transformed Hawai'i by David E. Stannard in Back Matter
- Easy Ukulele Method Book I by Mary Dempler in Front Matter
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