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Michael McDonald with his Kala Koa Cutaway
Photo credit : Soundstage/HD Ready
http://www.michaelmcdonald.com
Endorsee Luthea sings what she thinks... very inspiring - PATTY GRIFFIN Luthea stands out from her peers- ROLLING STONE MAGAZINE SUNBEAM SURROUNDED BY WINTER is the new bittersweet album from part Spanish and part Canadian singer/songwriter Luthea Salom, produced between NY and Skopje, (Macedonia) by Malcolm Burn and Luthea herself. This is her second album and it뭩 evocative, immediate, poetic, luminous, personal, innovative and though rooted in different cultures, it has a clear identity of its own. One can see reflections of Luthea뭩 nomadic and bohemian upbringing throughout her well crafted songs. Having grown up, travelled and lived in different parts of the world, this young multicultural and multilingual artist brings her life together with her music, proving to be a carismatic unique universe worth discovering.
http://www.lutheasalom.com/
Endorsee Jim D'Ville Bio: Jim D'Ville has spent the last 18 years figuring out how music works, and the best way to convey that information to the adult learner. He is the co-author, with banjo legend Bill Keith, of /*The Natural Way To Music; An Organic Approach to Understanding & Playing Music*/, which Happy Traum of Homespun Tapes says "...brings the principals of music into clear focus for learning musicians." In the last few years Jim has turned his attention to teaching by ear, and has developed a number of techniques that teach people how to play music rather than simply memorize songs. He has recently released a DVD based on this approach entitled /*Play Ukulele By Ea*r/ and his popular /*Play Ukulele By Ear */blog is in the top thirty uke website worldwide. He teaches workshops and private lessons in Portland, Oregon and been featured on Oregon Public Broadcasting's /*Oregon Art Beat*/ as a "ukulele revolutionary". Jim also plays with the Portland quartet *Caravan Gogh*. http://playukulelebyear.blogspot.com
Endorsee Deni Bonet is a singer/songwriter and world-class electric violinist, who quit the classical world because she hated wearing black and having to sit still. She became an original cast member of NPR뭩 "Mountain Stage" for several years, and has performed, toured and recorded with Cyndi Lauper, REM, Sarah McLachlan, Warren Zevon, Robyn Hitchcock and many others before forming her own highly regarded band. The Wall Street Journal recently described Deni뭩 music as 뱇ike Sheryl Crow meets the B-52뭩�. Deni picked up the Ukulele while in Hawaii last year. She뭩 barely put it down since. She뭩 currently working on the follow-up to her last highly acclaimed CD, 밚ast Girl On Earth�. The new CD will feature her new Kala ukulele! Through the magic of technology, Deni recently recorded with late ukulele legend Tiny Tim on several tracks of the recently released CD 밒뭭e Never Seen A Straight Banana� (Collector뭩 Choice Label). She sang, played violin, accordion and even ukulele on the CD. For more about Deni Bonet, go to her website: http://www.denibonet.com
Endorsee Justin Fox; Oh, yah - it뭩 UKE time!!! My friend and producer, Pete Dawson talked me into playing the ukulele live right after the Seabright release, and it뭩 been a big hit ever since. For years now, I뭭e drug that thing everywhere, from Hawaii to Sri Lanka, D.C. to Decatur, and broken it 3 times! My amazing endorsement comes from a long time friend; Michael Upton at Kala Ukes shown
http://www.justinfox.com/
Endorsee Danielle Ate The Sandwich. I write songs about things I feel and things I wonder what it would be like to feel. I write about things I know and things I don뭪 know. I write these songs using my astonishing wit and candor and through the help of Wikipedia, and other untrustworthy internet sources.
My influences include Simon and Garfunkel, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Death Cab for Cutie, and Joanna Newsom. I love the voice of Peggy Lee, Ella Fitzgerald and Blossom Dearie. Also, I listened to a lot of boy bands in middle school꿢nd high school and a little in college. I am influenced most, by words and language and the challenge of using them in new and different ways. See Danielle's new Video more
Endorsee Ryan O'Neal of Sleeping at Last. Since the release of 2003뭩 Ghosts, the members of Sleeping At Last have logged in thousands of miles on the road, earned heaps of critical acclaim and continue to refine its well oiled alternative rock machinery. From early spot dates with Zwan to touring with Switchfoot and Bleu to time with Yellowcard, Something Corporate and The Format to a solo headlining jaunt, the Chicago based trio has amassed a considerable following in all parts of the globe, connecting with its artistic melting pot of swelling anthems and lyrical sincerity... more
Snap Jackson is the creator and singer/songwriter of Snap Jackson & The Knock on Wood Players. This band is an acoustic quartet hailing from Stockton California. Their music blends Americana, Bluegrass, Soul, & Old Time Music to create a unique, fresh, & energetic sound. Whether it's a street corner, theatre, or outdoor festival, these boys are sure to leave a lasting impression. Be sure to catch them in a city near you. Snap plays our Mango KA-MTC-C model and our Spruce KA-STE model. He also plays banjo and harmonica...but we won뭪 hold that against him. www.myspace.com/snapjacksonmusic
Endorsee SteveEinhorn/Kate Power "Have Ukes Will Travel", Kate & Steve have ukes to lend and songs to sing. Teaching workshops on how to play the ukulele through songs, Kate & Steve plan to travel to diverse communities from town to town with the new soon-to-be-released "Ukalaliens Songbook", more
Becky Jo Benson here, member of The New Christy Minstrels, Under the Direction of Randy Sparks. I just want you to know that I ABSOLUTELY LOVE my Kala Ukes!!! We posted my photo with your beautiful Kala Ukes right after we got them,
www.thenewchristyminstrels.com
Blake Olvera Kala Endorsee Let me allow to introduce myself... My name is Blake Olvera and I am sixteen year old musician/songwriter living in Plano, Texas.. I'll be a junior in the fall of 2009 attending Plano West High School. more
Born and raised in the coalfields of Virginia, Cassette Company recording artist Melvin Dillon looks to play his brand of music that he calls "Appalachian Soul." Taking the melodies of the mountains where he came from and the sweet sounds of soul he found on the streets of Chicago, Melvin's upcoming release "Roads Home Burn," takes a pivotal look at where he is going, where he came from, and what he left behind.
Currently based in Knoxville, TN, Melvin is touring the area and showing audiences the same stripped-down stories that he showed to the many people who came out to see him at all the different bars, clubs, and coffeehouses he played in Chicago. more
photo by Brian Wagner | |