Bill Tapia Has Passed Away.

[Sonicfrog]

Story is here.

He was a month shy of his 104th birthday. In his day he could play anything he got his hands on, but was most famous for playing the Ukulele. His musical career spanned nearly a Century. , he got to play with the likes of Billie Holiday and Louie Armstrong. One of the few artists who could honestly brag that he learned song X just after WW 1.

I am really kicking myself because I had the chance to see him last year and didn't. I'm an idiot.

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http...Acj1VBxZoKLfLg

[TN WOODMAN]

Reminds me of going to New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival (probably 1989-went '88-'92 gets blurry) and having the chance to see Champion Jack Dupree. My buddy Chuck (trustest music fanatic like myself) was the only one in the party besides myself that chose to see him, playing solo for 10 people in a small snack bar kinda area.

I've been fortunate to see many of the real deal-Muddy, Pine Top, Champion Jack, AC Reed, Luther Alison, Buddy Rich, Stevie, on and on, before they flew this mortal coil.

[runmikeyrun]

Wow, 103 and still performing? Holy crap! I thought Chuck Berry was the man for still playing shows into his 80s.

Robert Lockwood Jr. lived in Cleveland and played occasionally at a local place called Fat Fish Blue, along with other places. He was into his 90s before he died. The man played blues with Robert Johnson!! I would see ads for his shows in my mid-late 20s and say "I gotta see this man before he passes" and sadly I never made the time.

[Dr. Cheese]

RIP! As someone who is starting to get into the ukelele, I can appreciate what a bad man he was. 103 and active until the end, that is a life well lived?

[Sonicfrog]

Reminds me... I really have to break out the mandolin and start practicing on that again.