{"id":13318,"date":"2015-01-25T07:00:34","date_gmt":"2015-01-25T12:00:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.northcountrypublicradio.org\/allin\/?p=13318"},"modified":"2015-01-23T13:25:38","modified_gmt":"2015-01-23T18:25:38","slug":"no-joke-ukuleles-amaze-and-inspire","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.northcountrypublicradio.org\/allin\/2015\/01\/25\/no-joke-ukuleles-amaze-and-inspire\/","title":{"rendered":"No joke: ukuleles amaze and inspire"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Jake<\/a>

Jake Shimabukuro<\/a> in performance in 2010. Photo: Joe Bielawa<\/a>, Creative Commons<\/p><\/div>\n

Earlier this month, the call went out for ukulele players to come play “O Canada” at the start of an Ottawa 67s hockey game.<\/p>\n

That did happen<\/a>. You can hear a rehearsal here<\/a>, or CBC coverage<\/a> of the actual event.<\/p>\n

An all-smiles performance, to be sure.<\/p>\n

So what is it about the ukulele<\/a>? From a joke prop for Tiny Tim, to new standing as a Hendrix-like lead instrument, this is one versatile musical vehicle.<\/p>\n

Some years ago, the uke gained worldwide exposure in this evocative rendering of “Over the Rainbow” by Israel Kamakawiwo’ole<\/a><\/p>\n