The ‘Ukulele: A History

by Jim Tranquada

Since its introduction to Hawai‘i in 1879, the ‘ukulele has been many a symbol of an island paradise; a tool of political protest; an instrument central to a rich musical culture; a musical joke; a highly sought-after collectible; a cheap airport souvenir; a lucrative industry; and the product of a remarkable synthesis of western and Pacific cultures. The ‘ A History explores all of these facets, placing the instrument for the first time in a broad historical, cultural, and musical context.

Drawing on a wealth of previously untapped sources, Jim Tranquada and John King tell the surprising story of how an obscure four-string folk guitar from Portugal became the national instrument of Hawai’i, of its subsequent rise and fall from international cultural phenomenon to “the Dangerfield of instruments,” and of the resurgence in popularity (and respect) it is currently enjoying among musicians from Thailand to Finland. The book shows how the technologies of successive generations (recorded music, radio, television, the Internet) have played critical roles in popularizing the ‘ukulele. Famous composers and entertainers (Queen Liliuokalani, Irving Berlin, Arthur Godfrey, Paul McCartney, SpongeBob SquarePants) and writers (Rudyard Kipling, Jack London, P. G. Wodehouse, Agatha Christie) wind their way through its history―as well as a host of outstanding Hawaiian musicians (Ernest Kaai, George Kia Nahaolelua, Samuel K. Kamakaia, Henry A. Peelua Bishaw). In telling the story of the ‘ukulele, Tranquada and King also present a sweeping history of modern Hawaiian music that spans more than two centuries, beginning with the introduction of western melody and harmony by missionaries to the Hawaiian music renaissance of the 1970s and 1980s.

Genres: Music, Nonfiction, History

296 pages, Hardcover

First published May 31, 2012

Reviews

[Clayton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is so densely packed with information. The title of the book sums it up and the authors generally stay on the straight and narrow of giving you exactly that. I (generally) haven't read many history books but there's a lot of random nuggets where the author found a reference or interesting little fact about someone using or playing a ukulele and squeezed it in.

It seemed like the body of what is described in the text discusses the ukulele in the US -- he does very much talk about the ukulele in other countries (e.g., Europe, Japan) but I'm wondering if there is more to that history then what he brought up in the book.

The primary contents of the book is 166 pages. An appendix, bibliography, citations/notes and index take up another 116 pages (whoa). A lot of time and love went into this book and maybe by the end of it you'll appreciate the ukulele a little more.

[James Crawford · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is over 280 pages long consisting of information about the ukulele from it's prototypes on up through the plastic ukuleles. It covers where the ukuleles started, how they got to Hawaii, how it got started there, how it became an aspect of Hawaiian culture, how it spread to California in particular, famous people who played the ukuele and the ukulele use in radio and television.

Also there is information on plastic ukuleles, ukuleles in tourism, ukuleles in vaudeville, Tiny Tim, ukuleles in the classroom, prejudice against ukuleles, notes, a bibliography and an index. There are also black and white photos. There are no color photos, though, and the notes section is in extremely small print and takes up one-forth of the book. That type of thing might be good for actual researchers but for the average reader I don't think that section is necessary at all.

[Aaron · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book contains everything you could ever want to know about the ukulele. The historical narrative is interesting, although the book does bog down in the details now and then. It's well organized and executed, if perhaps a bit dry... but it's a history book, after all, and history is a bit dry. If you're interested in ukuleles, this is a really great read.

[Anne Ku · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. Just excellent! Sad that John King passed away before the book was published.

[Tara Brabazon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 'go-to' book for ukulele history. Incredibly well researched, it is composed of a chronological narrative, which is a limiting structure, but it does explain the key twists in the history of this instrument.

The colonial (post-colonial / neo-colonial) thread of the ukulele's history is well exposed. Tranquada and King answer the key question about why a Portuguese machete become the Hawaiian ukulele. There is also attention to how the instrument gained its popularity through its mobility during two world wars.

This is an incredibly well researched book. For scholars working with the uke, this is a key first stop in the intellectual journey.

[Heather Pagano · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love history books that focus on a humble aspect of daily life in the past. Not only did I learn a ton about this lovely little instrument, but I learned about the history of Madeira, got an in-depth introduction to Hawaiian history, learned a ton about California, world fairs, household music before the record player, early radio, early television, the advent of plastic in consumer goods, and even got a great window into the history of American advertising.

[Richard Bodien · Rating 5 out of 5]

In addition to being an exceedingly well researched and written history of the ukulele, this book provides an education on the evolution of Hawaiian and Hawaiian-themed music and musicals on the mainland of the USA as the ukulele became massively popular in the early decades of the twentieth century.

[Jon Thysell · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little thin on the later years but otherwise a great read.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazingly well researched history with lots of great information.