A Career Reborn

When he did, his career was reborn, this time in ukulele jazz. Promoted by friend
Alyssa Archambault, who saw the showman in the 94-year-old and found
jobs for him, he began performing again. Audiences loved his mix of
storytelling and serious artistry. More things brought his name to the
forefront. A documentary about him, To You Sweetheart, Aloha, debuted in 2004. That same year, he was inducted into the Ukulele Hall of Fame.

His first CD, Tropical Swing, was released that year as well. It was followed by Duke of Uke, an engaging blend of sounds—jazz, in which he takes solos; Hawaiian; and even includes three songs recorded in 1936—“when I was a kid.”

Some of the songs feature two musicians he speaks highly of: bass player Byron Yasui, a professor of music at the University of Hawaii, and guitarist Benny Chong, who performed with Hawaiian entertainer Don Ho for 18

years. And Tapia even sings a few songs on his CDs. That’s something he didn’t do much in his earlier career. “They (the bandleaders) would let me sing comical songs,” he said, but that was it.

“No one should mistake this for a novelty act,” Mark Taylor, his booking agent, told the Honolulu Advertiser. “This is a real musician with real chops, charm, wit, and humor.”

His upcoming CD will be a mix of jazz and Hawaiian music recorded live at several West Coast venues, including the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco. Tour dates are still being arranged, but he’ll be in Santa Cruz, California, on April 2 and Berkeley, California, on April 4. Check Bill Tapia’s Web site for updates.