Tampa Bay Ukulele Getaway! Almost Here!!!

We are fast approaching the Tampa Bay Ukulele Getaway weekend festival! Held in Clearwater, it runs from Nov 7 to Nov 9. 

 Everyone is bristling with excitement, anticipating one of the best weekends ever for Ukulele Fests here in the Bay Area.  Not only are there great performers for the Saturday night concert, but most of these amazing performers also will be conducting workshops on Saturday, as well as participating in the "Jam" that goes on throughout the weekend in various spots all over the hotel. 

 That is the big draw and a big reason why the tickets sell out in hours for this getaway.  To be up close and intimate with these National and International performers, well, it's Priceless!!

 This year we have headliners that include Victoria Vox, Lil' Rev, Uncle Elvis aka Mike Hind,  Narciso Lobos, AmandaLynn, Uncle Zac, Colin Coleman,and a special performance by the TBUG Allstars!! 

 Ty & Mapuana  accompanied by Steve Boisen, TJ Wedger & Big Jim Allen  will finish the weekend with the Sunday Luau! 

On top of all that, the vendors are supreme this year!  Uke Republic is back in the house by popular request!! Featured in the Fall issue of Ukulele Magazine, this power house out of Atlanta has quite the story, from it's humble beginnings to the speed of light transformation that has become a household name in Ukulele circles around the globe!  

Vendors also include  custom ukulele artists  Augustino Lo Prinzi luthiers, need I say more? Then   Mim's Ukes, Mainland Ukes, & Dixie Ukuleles are also major favorites and represent a large portion of all the major brands of ukuleles. Mim loves to set up your ukulele and has all the tools right there at the event!!

 Rhythm Inlet returns again this year to bring sunshine from the Venice Sarasota area. They have built a huge following in our Southern counties of Tampa Bay in all things percussive!  From that foundation, they began with a humble selection of Ukuleles, and now have expanded their efforts to supply the Sarasota and all surrounding areas with the happy little fleas!



On Friday, the Tampa Bay Ukulele Society members gather together for a Mini Concert given by the TBUG AllStars, followed by a huge jam led by Jay Nunes who not only hosts a monthly jam event in Clearwater/Largo area for Tampa Bay Ukulele Society, but also gives Private Lessons, and has a serious  following of ADDICTED Ukulele enthusiasts who can attest to his dedication to all things Ukulele and his amazing teaching style!  Jay also performs with Todd Hughes as The Two Ukes here in the Tampa Bay Area! Fun, eclectic music from many generations that everyone loves to sing and dance to, performed, of course, on the Blessed Ukulele! 

  This jam will be followed by an Open Mic hosted by yet another event leader with Tampa Bay Ukulele Society, Big Jim Allen.  Allen performs in many groups around Tampa Bay as well as solo, and is the founder and performer of Ukulele Weddings!  Getting married on the Beach?  Coming to Florida for your Wedding?  Contact Big Jim Allen for classy beach ukulele music.  

Speaking of our own talented performers here in Tampa Bay, if you haven't checked out AmandaLynn yet, oh man, you better do it quick, so you can say, "I knew her when!"  Her voice and lyrics, well, talk about floating on a pink sunset cloud of trills and content that speaks to the heart and soul, I am amazed with each impactful session she produces!  You can catch more of AmandaLynn on Youtube or click on her name above under headliners to visit her website and get information on CDs and performance schedule. 

The weekend moves on with workshops and concerts by the headliners on Saturday, and then on Sunday,  more mega jams, raffle giveaways of amazing Ukuleles and merchandise, and a Luau with Hawaiian music and great buffet.  

Really, who could ask for more?? As always, I will be showing many of the event leaders from other parts of the state and outlying areas my transitional chording technique that is helping many first timers move quickly into jamming with the groups. Since the article came out about our happy crazy 3rd largest uke group in the nation in Ukulele Magazine, I've had many inquiries from these other leaders as to what I am teaching at the Beginner Sessions. Just watch for me as I will be there all weekend.  Happy to share with you!  Ever yours, 30s Uke Girl, Norine Mungo!!  

UKETABS.COM One Great Site!

So, about a year ago, I think I went to this site and loved that I could get my Ukulele tuned there.  I saw chord charts and thought, "Nice Site!"

What I didn't realize was the massive song file they have there, and not only can you print it out or save it with your log in, but you can transpose it to your key!

I spent the last couple of days, on my free hours, previewing  the songs from the vast list of artists on the site.  Truly amazing folks!  We had some fun tonight with ABBA and The Beatles, as well as some other rock.  It makes it easier for us event leaders when someone else has done all the work for us, and all we have to do is print it out for the jammers and beginners.

Please give this site a look or, if you haven't been there in a while, like me, please give it a 2nd look!  So much help and information on this one web page, you could be there for days!!  Again that is UKETABS.COM  Tell em 30s Uke Girl sent ya!!!  Enjoy!!

Andi Zack Country Singer Songwriter and Ukulele Artist

New discovery!  I asked a friend in Nashville if she knew of any country artists that were using the Ukulele as a main instrument.  With all the surge in Rock and other genres, I was curious to see if there were those among us who delved into the Country scene with the little tyke in hand!  

Andi Zack

My friend stated that I should look up Andi Zack!  Very first song I click on in the youtube format is a song called OH!  Written by 

Andi Zack, Karyn Williams and Jennifer Zuffinetti

I hope to get some history on Andi and how she came to play the Ukulele and a little about her journey!  So until then, here is a link to her Facebook  Page,  

https://www.facebook.com/AndiZack , and below  is the video of OH.  Please check out her other videos and like her page!  We need MORE Ukulele in Country Music!!!  Ever, 30s Uke Girl, Norine Mungo!

http://youtu.be/fsxB6XGtmss  

The Story Of Stax Records

This is a video journal from Youtube on the Story of Stax Records.  I have interjected some tidbits from the history but hope that you watch all the videos as well. 

As we are doing songs from the STAX catalog this Saturday here at South Tampa Jam, I wanted the members of Tampa Bay Ukulele Society to learn about this great story!

There are 8 videos.  If you prefer to just watch them in order, scroll down to each one and watch.  

They follow each other in order from 1 through 8.

I have placed some photo history and little snippets of memories from the Stax History in between the photos and the videos. 

Enjoy this walk with the Kings and Queens of Soul.

And, if you are ever in Memphis, go see the Academy and the Museum.  Tell them I sent ya!!! 

Story Of Stax Records Video 01

Stax began in 1957 as Satellite Records, originally to produce Country music from Jim's garage.  Sister Estelle became financially involved in 58. They eventually moved to Brunswick where Stewart met Chips Moman and he became acquainted with R & B.  At the urging of Chips, the business moved back to Memphis. Siblings, Jim Stewart and Estelle Axton changed the name to STAX in 1961 when they combined their names STewart and AXton.

Estelle Axton and Jim Stewart

In that neighborhood and area of Tennessee, the video tells of a time when White and Black did not mix together in any form of business or otherwise, and so, the enigma of STAX was an amazing miracle that became legend!

I don't think the original vision that Jim Stewart had for his little label was missed at all.  As he became more enamoured with R & B,  and as Estelles astute ear for danceable rhythm continued to influence the records, the two gained the respect and loyalty of all those who worked with them.

The Story of Stax Records 02

The whole surreal environment happend in a racially tense time in Memphis.  White and Black staff members and musicians, all coexisting together in harmony, producing the most memorable songs from Soul and Funk that we still recognize today!

By 1962, STAX had turned the tide from being a well known regional label into

 a Nationally recognized R & B label, along side Motown and Atlantic!

Story Of Stax Records Video 03

926 E McLemore Ave, South Memphis, Summer of 1962!  STAX Records moves into the old theater and rolls out hit after hit!  The neighborhood rallies around the building and there is dancing in the street from the speaker placed outside the record shop attached to the recording studio!



Hits like Gee Whiz, Green Onions, Barefootin, Last Night,
Knock On Wood, Midnight Hour, Mr. Big Stuff, Hold On I'm Coming, Land Of A 1000 Dances, Soul Man, Sweet Soul Music, Dock Of The Bay, well, it is almost countless, it goes on and on, hit after hit.

                                                      The Story Of Stax Records 04

STAX draws the known and the unknown,
who became known to the world!

The whole history of Stax Records spans from 1957 to the present day, as it has resurfaced on the hallowed ground from whence this phoenix rose, burned and rose again!

New records, young talented inner city kids, old masters of soul, all coming together to create a new phenomenon in the halls of STAX, and the attached academy.

Now a Museum and school, rising out of the ashes to burn bright once more, STAX goes on, and is influencing music into decades beyond 2014!

Story Of Stax Records Video 05

The Mar-Keys

The Mar-Keys were originally signed as The Royal Spades.  They were a local band with horns and a soul sound.  They were white, and upon entering the studio, everyone embraced them in, and they became a significant power for the label.


Their hit, Last Night, soared and crossed genres!
They eventually melted into and teamed with Booker T becoming Booker T and the M.Gs.

Story Of Stax Records Video 06

Estelle Axton

The record shop next to the theater was established by Estelle, in the cinema's old foyer where refreshments had been served.

In a time when the youth of the area had to go over a long route to get to Sears to buy a record, this little record shop ignited the neighborhood into a dancing frenzy!

This also allowed Estelle to judge what the kids likes and what they didn't like so well, allowing her to influence the types of songs the label produced!

The little shop employed local youth, and gave a place for young hopefuls to listen and learn.  It also helped with cash flow for the recording studio, as they struggled in the beginning to create their sound.

Many a writer undervalued Estelle and her contributions to STAX, but a recent writer, Robert Gordon, brought to light all of the accomplishments that Estelle was known for.  He also wrote about the love and respect that all the performers and staff had for this woman of soul!!

Story Of Stax Records Video 07

Booker T and The M.G.s

Steve Cropper replaced Chips Moman as A & R director, and also played guitar on sessions.  The house band varied but constant session players were the likes of: Lewie Steinberg on Bass, Curtis Green on Drums, and on Horns were Floyd Newman, Gene Miller and Gilbert Caple!

Booker T. Jones, pianist and multi instrumentalist, became a session player by 1962 as well.  He was joined by Cropper, Steinberg and drummer, Al Jackson Jr to form Booker T and the M.G.s

Story Of Stax Records Video 08

Eventually, as is expounded upon in the videos, Stax was no more, but not for long.  As I stated earlier, this company of American Soul resurfaced many times/ 

 Though the original building was torn down, and nothing left but an empty lot, the dream of STAX compelled many to come together and form a unified front to get grants and donations from private patrons, until, once again, a vision unheard of before, emerged as a new dream.

STAX is once again on McLemore Ave.  It is now a thriving museum and a charter school for inner city kids.  This music school graduates senior classes that are 100 % accepted to colleges and universities across the country.  Many are accepted to the Berklee College of Music.  They work hand in hand with the Stax Music Academy to produce and influence some of the great musical minds of our future!  

Here is a link to a site which combines both together! Berklee City Music Network

 Enjoy the journey to the Soul Side and let your heart soar!   Ever, 30s Uke Girl, aka Norine Mungo  

South Tampa Jam goes to the STAX CATALOG!!

STAX LOGO

This Month, South Tampa Jam goes STAX!  Held the 3rd Saturday of the month, the South Tampa Jam leans on themes each month to keep it fun and moving!  So far this year we have done Broadway, Love Songs, Elvis, Billy Joel, TV Theme Songs, Rock N Roll, Country, and now, for August, STAX.  

Yes, you CAN do stax with Ukulele!  This month we will have Baritones, Tenors, Concerts, Sopranos, Kala Bass, and Cajoun Percussion.  This is going to be one heck of a jam! I am also allowing Acoustic Guitar from our members, and any one who wants to play horns, BRING it!!  For more information as the song list rolls out, check the Tampa Bay Ukulele Society site for more information!  

Tampa Bay, this is your time to kick the end of Summer into high gear, get loud and proud and sing out with the awesome Stax catalog! 

We of course wouldn't dare do this jam without the quintessential Otis Redding!  Dock Of The Bay will start the day off!  See you all there!  Ever, 30s Uke Girl!!! 

Here is a link to the STAX Museum!

Transitional Chording!

Hi Boys and Girls,
Well, the article came out in Ukulele Magazine and requests have poured in from across the country as to what I am teaching in regards to Transitional Chording!  As this is a unique terminology, (I looked it up on the net, and lo and behold, it is a word I must have made up to explain what it is I do!), I thought it best to add a page to the blog and begin to produce some video on it!  I will also begin the production of a DVD on the technique for those who wish to view it as a workshop.

Thank you to Ukulele Magazine for the nice write up about our Tampa Bay Ukulele Society and all that we have to offer for the Ukulele Enthusiasts!  Happy Strumming and Ever Yours, Norine Mungo aka 30s Uke Girl!!!

Found some Great Sites with Ukulele Charts you can print!

Hello Boys and Girls, 
30s Uke Girl here with another great find.  I have been printing charts for my students in the past, but they were adults and the charts were a bit more complicated.  Now I have some youth students taking Ukulele and Voice so I've been on the hunt again for great sites that cater to small fingers with big minds!  

The newest site I have found that allows you to copy the image if you need to, is Ukulele Chords . Com King Of The Charts!   You can browse through every chord that exists and on top of that, it shows VARIATIONS of those chords all the way up the neck!  This comes in handy later when you are playing some of those jazzier tunes where several of the chords are on upper frets!  Why not play all the chords of the song in the same vicinity???  Less Finger movement equals faster chord changes!!! 

There is also a site that coexists with the one mentioned above.  It is a called Ukulele Scales Improvisation and Solos!  Wow!  I have to tell you that I am finally able to run through some finger picking now, AND I can finally read and play tablature.   So, adding these two sites to my treasure stash as well as continuing the journey of all things Ukulele, I am now enjoying music more than I ever have in my whole life. 

And Boys and Girls, it's been a very long life!!!  Why, I feel like I am the Grandma Moses of Music!!  Ok, I'm not THAT ancient, but I'm just saying!  If I can take on this project in my later adult years, then so can YOU!!  

I know that, at first, even the simplest chords can seem confusing.  But just stick with it.  Learn a simple song first, by heart!  Learn those two or three basic chords thoroughly! Learn several strum patterns to that song in those same chords.  Keep at it till your strums are clear and bright.  Learn to lift those knuckles up off the fret board and allow the strings under your hand to freely ring out.  It takes a little time to do this, but soon, it is like a light turns on and you GOT it! Then, the next song takes a little less time, and the next, until, after a few months of doing that, you can just pick up a song and follow along nicely, without too much effort!  

I am always rooting for you!  I'd love to see the whole world go UKE crazy!  Wouldn't that be something?

Ok, I have to run, I am planning my next lessons!  You all take care and let me know how you are doing! I look forward to hearing from Ukulele enthusiasts from all over the world!
Ever Yours, 30s Uke Girl!

Scary Virus Action has Ukegirl all Boggled Up!!!

Hey there Boys and Girls,
This last two weeks has been a real eye opener as the internet virus continues to attack!!  Just for safety, I have had to go in and change MANY passwords!  Our internet here at the Mungos went down to a crawl!  We've got experts working on it, and we are being cautious! I have lots of work to produce for the TBUS Beginner Sessions and the South Tampa Jam, as well as recently taking on some private students for Vocal lessons and Ukulele.

All I can say is, DARN you hackers!  Why don't you just leave us alone???  The greatest thing to happen to us is all the community networking over the last 10 years.  I've connected with family and friends that I'd lost touch with through moves and outdated address books.  I don't want to lose that!  Plus, being able to Skype and see you in person has been such a blessing!

Hang in there my friends!  Hopefully security systems will kick in and clear it all up!  In the meantime, I am deleting all my emails on all my google sites.  They say that Yahoo has really been hacked up, so if you have that email, get in there and clear it out and set new passwords!

I know this wasn't about Ukulele, but, I don't want to lose touch with y'all, so I am just laying it out there and telling you to keep your pc clean and DON'T open ANY attachments no matter how much you love your mother or friend, it might not be them who sent it!!!

See you all soon at the events!  Ever yours, 30s Uke Girl Norine Mungo

Uncle Elvis aka Mike Hind was IN THE HOUSE this weekend!!!

Uncle Elvis aka Mike Hind was here in Tampa this weekend with the Flea Bitten Dawgs finishing up a tour and man was it a finish!

I didn't get to catch his set when he was here for the Tampa Bay Ukulele Getaway but was fortunate enough to get to jam with him that November weekend.  I fell in love with his energy and go give spirit as I watched him laugh and jam with new players, sage players and National Acts, treating everyone the same.  

This last weekend was no exception and I can only describe it as awesomeness to the Nth level! I got to catch the whole show, and it was my baptism of Uncle Elvis.  Baptism of FIRE!!!  LOL. 

 This "Elvis" got up after the Dawgs, and I swear, he played about 2 hours non stop! His originals were poignant, moving, and some were very direct!  Haha. His covers were spot on!  The energy coming off the stage was magnetic. The humorous innuendos were delivered with the precision of a comedic engineer.  My face hurt about halfway through his show, just from laughing and smiling.  My cheeks were numb by the end of the two hours!  And after the show, we all jammed till the wee hours. That was then followed by a Sunday at Sam Ash for a three part workshop with Uncle Elvis going over Beginner Open Mic strategies! Even I, a professional performer for over 40 years took some notes, it was that good! And, he got 4 people up out of the workshop that had fear and sweaty fingers and got them to perform to rousing applause.  Amazing.  I don't know that anyone else could have convinced those souls to get up.  He drew a performance out of each of them.

Now, let me warn you, at some of his shows, depending on the crowd (age and venu) his show/schtick  can include comedic dissertation that quite frankly could be a little, well. . . ADULT. But, for most of his shows, the humor is tame and family oriented, so, just enjoy the tongue in cheek because, ha ha ha, in between the humor, he belts out tremendous high voltage vocals and whisper soft ballads that will make your heart weep! 

Here is a link to an article about Mike Hind from the local news in Bermuda, The Royal Gazette. 

Giving a little background on his Ukulele journey!  You will find that it is not unlike most of our stories.  This infectious little flea just gets under your skin and worms it's way right to your heart.  

Here is a link to his fan page!  LOL, created by his biggest fan, Himself, it is a place to stay in touch with Elvis and be on top of all his events!  The Uncle Elvis Fan Club . And a link to his Facebook page, Mike Hind. Also, here is a link to his Tumblr site, Nice Things.

Lastly, here is a link to his youtube channel.  He does a lot of tutorial vids and just many funny moments and shows.  I hope you catch the Elvis bug and join in the fun with us fantazimatic ukulele enthusiasts and begin following  this kind and spectacular human being who decided to make us all part of his show!   Ever Yours, 30s Uke Girl aka Norine Mungo

OK, 30s Uke Girl is back on it! New Videos coming and lots of news on Ukulele Surge!!!

Hey there boys and girls from all over the world!  It looks like the phenomenon of the Ukulele surge is not slowing down one bit.  It is exciting to see all the buzz in the news lately about all the clubs and festivals and the surge in Ukulele sales over the last year.  It is only getting better and bigger and that is great for all of us enthusiasts!

I just finished a festival last weekend and was so thrilled to see people turning around from far away points and making their way over to the stage area when they heard the music.  People were smiling and tapping their feet to the music, and they not only commented on the original songs afterward, but that they loved the ukulele!  This was not an Ukulele festival, but a Folk Festival.  So, you can imagine that I was really happy to hear all the great comments.

I did a lot of shout outs for our Tampa Bay Ukulele Society, and for Ukulele playing in general.  Hey, I am by no means extremely talented on picking but I do write great songs and now that I am comfortable playing them on Baritone and Tenor, well, it just adds to the songs appeal.

I will be posting some videos on here for a couple of different groups.  One is for the Girls Picking Party and that is songs that we will all work on through the year via video.  The other group is for my peeps here in Tampa Bay Ukulele Society, and that will be all originals and some instructional on some cover tunes for Beginner Sessions and South Tampa Jam!

So, here is a video of an original I wrote called Nothing Lasts Forever, a love song, lol, and forgive the quality of sound, as I am new at this recording with the pc cam.  I will get better!  Enjoy and stay tuned in and turned on as there are many events coming up over the next two months that will rock your hula girl socks right off!  Ever, 30s Uke Girl aka Norine Mungo