Ukulele facts, the history of ukulele, and ukulele cord charts are all over the internet. Just Google any of those terms and you’ll have at least an afternoon’s reading.

What sometimes is missing, is what a love affair there is between the ukulele and the music from it, and the people of Hawaii. Almost every school, grade school on up, has a ukulele band. Bet you don’t have that in Yuma, Arizona or Portland, Maine.
The instrument, and the music from it, is rooted in the arrival of Portuguese immigrants in the 1870’s, sugar plantation workers, and the culture’s just plain love of music. It’s “everyman’s” musical instrument; portable, basic cording is pretty easy, and very versatile (just ask Jake Shimabukuro).

Oh, about the “jumping flea” part. There are many stories as to the origin of the name “ukulele.” One, of many, is that when people saw it played rapidly, fingers dancing and strumming, it reminded them of a flea jumpng around.
In Hawaiian:
uku (oo coo)=flea
lele (leh leh)=jump,leap
Put ‘em together folks and you get “ukulele.”

OK, OK, here’s the announcement … I’ve edited it somewhat in the interest of brevity. If you wrote it, I guess you can just come over and slap me:

SAN CLEMENTE, Ca. -May, 2008. The Surfing Heritage Foundation will be hosting ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro on Sunday, May 25th. The concert will be held at the Foundation’s cultural heritage facility … 110 Calle Iglesia, San Clemente, CA 92672. Show time 7:30 pm and doors open to the general public at 6:30 pm. General admission is $25. VIP tickets, include dinner, drinks and premiere seating,$75. Proceeds go to the Surfing Heritage Foundation … .

Jake Shimabukuro is fast becoming recognized [he's already recognized] as one of the world’s top ukulele musicians. His virtuosity defies label or category, playing jazz, blues, funk, classical, bluegrass, folk, flamenco, and rock, Jake’s mission is to show everyone that the instrument is capable of so much more than Hawaiian music. Jake has played and recorded with a treasure trove of other musicians including; Jimmy Buffet, Diana Krall, Fiona Apple, Bobby McFerrin, and Ziggy Marley. He has also appeared on The Late Show with Conan O’Brien.

Here’s a good place to start on your ukulele research:

Aloha a hui hou