Ukulele Great Bill Tapia 1908-2011: An Amazing Life

A true legend passed away peacefully on December 2nd 2011, Bill Tapia was 103 and retirement was the furthest thing from his mind. Rediscovered in 2000, he spent his final years touring and releasing CDs a format that was not even a dream when he was born in Honolulu in 1908.

Hawai’i’an youth frequently get an introduction to music at an early age, Bill was seven when he received his first lessons on the ukulele. When World War One rolled around Bill entertained visiting soldiers and sailors with a stunt, playing The Stars and Stripes Forever behind his neck. By the age of twelve Bill Tapia was set on a career as a musician during an era of changing musical styles. Jazz and the Ukulele grew up during the 1920s and young Bill embraced both with determination and drive.

Byron Yasui, famous University of Hawai’i music professor, was quoted byThe Washington Post as saying, "While other ukulele players strummed Lady of Spain and Granada,’ Yasui said, ‘Mr. Tapia played songs such as Embraceable You, Peg o’ My Heart and Slow Boat to China — in their original keys.”

The ukulele enjoyed a surge in popularity during the transition from silent films to movies with talking and music, a perfect instrument for a variety of performers; Bill Tapia was given credit for introducing the ukulele to such luminaries as Clark Gable, Shirley Temple and Arthur Godfrey.

Bill Tapia, though, was a musician, he could tell which way winds were swirling, the ukulele delightful though it might be was a fad, a novelty, and he turned his talents to the banjo and guitar, moving the San Francisco, where he became a fixture with various bands. Jazz was his forte, leading Bill Tapia to performing with Louie Armstrong, Billie Holiday, Charlie Barnet and Fats Waller.

It was a tragedy that brought Bill Tapia back to the ukulele. Well into his 90s, his wife of 64 years, Barbara Perreira, and his daughter Cleo died right around the year 2000. Once again, to quote The Washington Post, "He told the Los Angeles Times that the instrument helped him 'forget a little.'"

Bill Tapia’s career soared on the strength of a resurgence of interest in the ukulele, as noted by his website BillTapia.com, "Returning to his ukulele roots, he released his first CD Tropical Swing in 2004 at the age of 96, featuring jazz and Hawaiian standards. The title track was a 1936 recording on Okeh Records, his only previous release. Riding the wave of a new ukulele resurgence, Bill was soon in demand at clubs and festivals up and down the West Coast, Hawai’i, New York and even Japan. He followed up Tropical Swing with Duke of Uke (2005) and Livin’ It Live (2009), showcasing his amazing live show. All three of these CDs made the national jazz charts and received airplay on hundreds of radio stations nationwide. Earlier this year, Live at the Warner Grand was released, documenting his 100th birthday concert. Slowed but not stopped by a broken hip, Tapia continued to tour until late in 2010.”