Died On This Date (December 2, 2011) Bill Tapia / 103 Year Old Ukulele Legend
themusicsover Bill Tapia
January 1, 1908 – December 2, 2011
Bill Tapia was arguably the greatest if not longest working ukulele player the world has ever known. Born in Honolulu, HI, Tapia was only 10 when he was entertaining American troops who were stationed in Hawaii during WWI. Before he knew it, Tapia was touring with vaudeville shows and playing on steam ships between Hawaii and the mainland. When the ukulele became all the rage during the ’40s and ’50s, Tapia was the teacher to the stars, tutoring the likes of Shirley Temple, Clark Gable, and Elvis Presley. He also played with such music luminaries as Fats Waller, Bing Crosby, and Billie Holiday. Tapia moved to San Francisco following WWII and was more or less retired – outside of guitar teaching. Then in 2004, he launched his comeback at the age of 96! He released an album of jazz and Hawaiian tunes later that year. In 2001, Tapia celebrated his 100th birthday with a jazz concert which was recorded and later released. He continued to tour until 2010. Bill Tapia was 103 when he passed away on December 2, 2011.
What You Should Own
Jackie Leven was an influential Scottish folk singer who actually first found recognition as part of a new wave band, Doll by Doll. The group, formed by Leven in 1975, was critically acclaimed, but never quite caught on like many of its peers, perhaps due to their darker sound. Following the break up of Doll by Doll in 1983, Leven went on to have a notable solo career during which time he released over 20 albums. In 1984, Leven was randomly attacked and strangled which left him unable to speak for nearly two years. In 1994, Leven signed with the influential Cooking Vinyl Records, who was also home, at one point of another, to Billy Bragg, Prodigy, Killing Joke, and the Lemonheads, to name a few. He released his final album, Wayside Shrines And The Code Of The Traveling Man, in September of 2011. Jackie Leven died of lung cancer on November 14, 2011. He was 61.
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