Thanks For The Memories

On Wednesday evening, the YesterUkes had fun singing and playing for the kind people at Broad St. United Methodist Church. About 90 people came out on a cold, rainy night for sausage casserole, grits, baked fruit...and the YesterUkes! We sang old songs, laughed a lot, and remembered times gone by. We are rarely set up on a stage, but this church has a fabulous facility, complete with a full stage, where we looked and felt like a "real" band. The place went crazy when Dick sang "The Lion Sleeps Tonight".

Earlier this week, the YesterUkes lost one of their biggest fans. (He was my uncle). Uncle Phil loved fishing, the Carolina Gamecocks, and he loved the music we played. I learned much of this music second-hand -- from my parents, their collection of 78 rpm records and old movies on television. But when I would visit Uncle Phil, he would ask what we were playing now, and as we talked about the songs, he would tell me that he remembered seeing Glen Miller play that one. Or, that he and his lovely bride had danced to Tommy Dorsey playing that particular song years ago. And he remembered seeing Nat King Cole singing with a group, before he became famous. Hearing his stories made it all come alive. And most times, he would tell me that his favorite singer was Doris Day. And then he would always say, "You know...she and I are the same age."

Several months ago, he arranged for the YesterUkes to play at Morningside, where he was a resident. I was told that if we had flown in from Hollywood, he could not have been more proud to have scheduled our appearance. We will be back there in a couple of weeks to play again. How sad it will be to play without him there listening. But we hope that now, he is somewhere where the fish are always biting, the Gamecocks win often, and Doris Day is heard on the radio all the time.

Food, Glorious Food!

The YesterUkes are on the road again.  Rested and refreshed after a holiday break, they resumed performing for groups across the Upstate.  The first program of 2009 was preceded by a wonderful lunch provided by the members of St. Matthew UMC, who braved the cold to come today.  The YesterUkes love good cooking almost as much as they love good music! (Or, could that be the other way around?)

After lunch, the band kicked off their set.  Voices joined together, singing bouncy choruses from the swing era.  Ukuleles are particularly well-suited to these jazz standards, breezing through the quick chord changes.  Listeners became part of the music as they sang along with these lively tunes.  How can you tell if they like the music?  Look for smiling faces, tapping toes, bouncing knees and lots of laughter.  A standing ovation, like the one the band received today, is a pretty good sign the the band is doing it right!

After the program comes the best part -- listening to the stories told as folks come up afterwards to speak to band members.  There are so many funny tales and moving stories connected to these old songs.  Every person has something different to share.  The temperature was still frosty when it was time to leave, but everyone went out into the cold with warmed spirits -- many still humming their favorite song.

The Whole World Smiles With You

The start of a new year is a good time to look at what has happened during the one just past.  There was no grand plan to create a successful band. But the YesterUkes just followed the music to see where it would lead. Success has it's downside, though...fatigue was constantly nipping at their heels toward the end of the year. But a few smiles from well-worn faces or warm hand shakes from wheelchair bound listeners would give a much needed boost. And there were exciting moments, too, like playing for a pub audience, at a coffee house and a restaurant. Oh, and don't forget the many excellent covered dish dinners that followed church performances.  

Here are the stats--the YesterUkes grew from 10 members at the beginning of 2008 to the current roster of 15. During 2008, they played 33 performances in five South Carolina counties and made one trip to North Carolina. They entertained just over 1700 people during the year.  They found dedicated folks who followed their performances.  Groupies!  

People genuinely love this group and their music.  Maybe it's the memories that these old songs stir up.  So many after show comments would begin with, "I remember when..."  The YesterUkes are looking forward a new year and new adventures.  Maybe they will play at a location near you.

Like the song says, when you're smiling, the whole world smiles with you.  Not bad for beginners...

The Third Impossible Thing

The first impossible thing was cutting a CD within six months of becoming a band. A real CD with shrink wrap, liner notes, and everything. The second impossible thing was having a news article in The Greenville News that was on the front page of the Sunday Lifestyle edition, nearly a full page, headline above the fold. That came after they had difficulty getting even a mention in a smaller paper. The third impossible thing happened on Friday when the YesterUkes played a holiday mini-concert at the Grove Park Inn in Asheville, NC.

Each one of these accomplishments happened after a band member said "Wouldn't it be great if ... ?" And everyone would laugh and exclaim, "Well, that will never happen!" But each time a seed was planted. And this is a determined group of people. They worked hard to push their performance skills to a higher level. Each one became a better musician. They have learned what audiences enjoy. They learned about public relations and press kits and such. They have delighted audiences across the upstate. And in one calendar year, they managed to do each "impossible thing" they talked about.

That is how they came to perform at the Grove Park Inn, a world class resort and spa located in the mountains of North Carolina. This was their first out-of-state appearance. On Friday the Great Hall was busy as holiday guests arrived for a winter vacation. But the bustling about stopped for a moment when the YesterUkes started their music. Children danced. Adults smiled. Everyone enjoyed singing Christmas favorites as the band led their largest sing-along yet. Even hotel staff stopped to listen and enjoy the music. The YesterUkes will now take some time off to enjoy Christmas with their families and most likely they will enjoy telling stories about all they have done in 2008!

To see more photos from their latest adventure click on http://www.flickr.com/photos/yesterukes/show/

Travlin' Along, Singing A Song, Side By Side

The elusive "Elvis" has finally been captured in a photo! The YesterUkes entertained once again at Martha Franks Baptist Retirement Center, singing holiday songs from different decades and different parts of the world. But "Elvis" singing "Blue Christmas" always seems to steal the show! Wonder if he will return after the holidays?

Martha Franks Baptist Retirement Center was the birthplace of the YesterUkes. The band was an off-shoot of a ukulele class that was offered to Martha Franks residents. The band grew from the small group who completed the class and expanded to include people from across the Upstate. Band members come from six different towns and cities. They have performed in five different counties for hundreds of delighted listeners.

Their music always comes from the heart. Most songs are upbeat, toe-tapping selections. The audience is always encouraged to sing along with these old favorites. Making music together is what it's all about!

There's A Song In The Air

The YesterUkes continue to spread Christmas cheer as the holiday rapidly approaches. Two programs in one week kept them quite busy. They led a songfest for the seniors of First Baptist Church in Greenville early in the week. This program was filled with unexpected surprises. First was a visit from Santa who arrived to the strains of "Here Comes Santa Claus." After his quick visit, the YesterUkes continued with their program. Then, as if on cue, just as the YesterUkes began to sing "Sleigh Ride", a sleigh-shaped buggy filled with toddlers from the nursery across the hall was wheeled in to let the children listen to the music. Those little ones stayed long enough to hear a couple of songs, including the perennial favorite, "Jingle Bells." Then the ukulele players joined church members for lunch and enjoyed some of the best chicken pie ever.

Red sweaters, red shirts, red vests....folks in holiday attire filled all 100 seats at the Ray Hopkins Senior Center. Their annual Christmas dinner was held on Friday. After lunch, the YesterUkes sang and played for one of their largest audiences ever. Everyone enjoyed singing Christmas favorites. And the ladies loved it when"Elvis" appeared to sing his version of "Blue Christmas!" Several couples danced to the lively music as the band played. It was quite a party. After the program had ended you could hear people humming and whistling as they gathered their coats to leave. Happy sounds, happy faces...in one of the most happy places!

We Need A Little Christmas Now

Playing twice in one morning was a new challenge for the YesterUkes. At a Christmas brunch for the Greenville Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, the YesterUkes provided holiday music as a backdrop to a buffet for the many volunteers that serve the hospital community. Folks enjoyed the food and visiting with each other and then began to settle in at tables in front of the band to listen to the music. The brunch was held in a room that was open to the three floors above. People on the upper floors watched from their windows as the YesterUkes offered up their bouncy rendition of Christmas tunes. Curtains were pulled aside and faces pressed against the windows to see "Elvis" sing his heart out on the old standard "Blue Christmas." In a quick "costume change", the YesterUkes donned Santa hats, elf ears, and blinking reindeer antlers when they sang and played some favorite children's Christmas songs.

Then the group quickly moved to the lobby/atrium for second mini-concert. People passing by would stop for a few minutes to listen and then continue about their business....but with a smile on their faces. One man, who was connected to an array of medical machinery, was being wheeled to another location in the hospital. About the only thing not hooked up to something was his foot. The orderly stopped long enough for him to listen for a bit, and his untethered foot happily tapped out the beat along with the band. The YesterUkes love it when they can bring a little pleasure to those who find it in short supply.

The following words were copied from a wall plaque some time ago. It could have been written about the YesterUkes.

If you planted hope today in any hopeless heart,
If someone's burden was lighter because you did your part,
If you caused a laugh that chased a tear away,
If tonight your name is mentioned when someone kneels to pray,
Then your day was well spent

That makes it all worth the effort.