'Ukulele chronicler in Honolulu to sing praises

By Wanda A. Adams
Advertiser Books Editor

"The Ukulele: A Visual History," by Jim Beloff, has been released in a revised and expanded edition. On the Web Jim Beloff's site for 'ukulele products and lore, which he calls "Disneyland for 'ukulele lovers," is at fleamarketmusic.com.

Beloff, aka "Jumpin' Jim," originally from Connecticut and living in Los Angeles, might as well carry an honorary Hawai'i driver's license for all the time he spends thinking and writing about Hawai'i and traveling here to consult with friends such as Herb Ohta Sr., Roy Sakuma and Lyle Ritz. Beloff is in town this month to work on a CD of songs co-written with Ohta (he's doing lyrics to Ohta's music). And he will be appearing at the second annual Ukulele Exhibition and Conference Saturday and Sunday at the Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort.

Beloff is a former Billboard magazine associate publisher who founded Flea Market Music, based in Los Angeles, 10 years ago.

A guitar player, he found an old Martin 'ukulele about 11 years ago at a flea market and was smitten. Later, he began to discover out-of-print songbooks from the 1940s and '50s.

"They were just delightful, and I thought it was so sad that none of these arrangements are available today," he said. A side business was born.

Four years ago, Beloff became a full-time 'ukulele businessman, publishing a series of songbooks (i.e. "Jumpin' Jim's Gone Hawaiian," "Jumpin' Jim's Camp Ukulele"), selling simple, inexpensive versions of the 'ukulele called the Fluke and the Flea, teaching 'ukulele, writing a piece for 'ukulele and orchestra ("Uke Can't Be Serious") that was debuted by the Wallingford (Conn.) Symphony, and consulting for the first-ever museum exhibition (in Stamford, Conn.) to explore the full history of the instrument.

His most recent effort is a revised and expanded version of his 1997 book, "The Ukulele — A Visual History" (we forgive him for not using the 'okina because he worked so hard to get everything else right, even rewriting a segment on the Portuguese roots of the instrument based on new information).

The book (Backbeat Books, $24.95), is splashed with more than 200 color photos and dozens of articles, essays, lists and tidbits outlining the history of the "jumping flea," great players and personalities, important manufacturers and the instrument's place in the world today, including short biographies of "The New Generation" of players, including Jake Shimabukuro and Daniel Ho.

Ukulele Guild of Hawaii founder Mike Chock, an 'ukulele builder, said the organization is glad to welcome Beloff again. They are working hard to find a permanent location to create a museum and hall of fame here.

Chock finds it ironic that Mainlanders such as Beloff have had so much success bringing attention to the instrument, while here in Hawai'i, where the 'ukulele is played daily, it has no public home.

Jumpin' flea market

• 2nd annual Ukulele Exhibition and Conference.
• Presented by Ukulele Guild of Hawaii; members are builders, players, historians, interested parties.
• 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Sunday.
• Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort, second-floor Kaimuki Exhibition Room.
• Free (nonmembers pay fee for seminars; membership is $35).
• Exhibits, vendors, performances, seminars (sign up in advance for seminars).
• Jim Beloff will give a seminar on 'ukulele history at 10 a.m. Saturday and sign his newly reissued history of the instrument.
• Information: Mike Chock, 847-1541; www.ukuleleguild.org/exhibition2003.shtml.