Marilee Tangen
The ukulele has made a comeback in a big way, although it’s not the voice of Tiny Tim this time around.
Big pop groups, like Twenty One Pilots, are capturing the old familiar sound of ukuleles and writing huge hit songs with them. My voice students are requesting to learn some of these songs.
One of my buddies is a member of a nine-piece ukulele band in Los Angeles called the Ooks of Hazard. They have quite a following. Their YouTube video of rock band MGMT’s song called Kids got millions of views after it was posted. Because of their popularity on the web, the band appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman. They also toured Europe this summer as the headliners for a huge ukulele festival.
The ukulele has always been a staple at my family reunions since the early 70s. Every time the family got together, my uncle, Wesley, led all 30 of us in a sing along. His favorite tune was Five Foot Two, Eyes Are Blue…
So, why has the ukulele become so cool again? Maybe because it’s a really convenient instrument that gets the job done. You can carry it anywhere you travel, unlike a piano, and it’s an instrument easy with which to play and sing along. It’s also great for bringing the family together and having some fun.
Due to this revival, I’m now teaching ukulele workshops to my students and anyone in the community who would like to learn. If you are interested, please check out my website, and send me an email. In the meantime, look up the Ooks of Hazard on YouTube.
For more information about Marilee Tangen and MT’s MusicHouse, visit the website at mtsmusichouse.com, or call (818) 292-2937. You also can send an email to mtsmusichouse@gmail.com.