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The Ukulele: A Visual History
The Ukulele A Visual History is a fun, photo-filled look at the ongoing story of this diminutive instrument. This revised edition includes a new chapter on recent pop-culture visibility, new photos, and updated information throughout. It features breathtaking color photographs of the finest and most unique ukuleles, the history of the ukulele, the greatest players, the great makers, and the uke in popular culture. Beautifully designed and presented in a deluxe hardcover edition ... uke can't go wrong with this book!
- GenresMusicNonfictionHistory
130 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 1997
33 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
November 18, 2007
A beautifully edited and illustrated history of the coolest musical instrument in the world, The lowly, optimistic and supremely portable ukulele! If everybody played the uke, we would live in a better world.
September 24, 2015
Fun reading (with great pictures) but too often the backgrounds made it difficult to read the text and the use of a/k/a drove me crazy. There are some interesting ukuleles out there.
October 30, 2025
Illustrated with color photographs, this book provides a brief history of the musical instrument ukulele from the arrival of the proto-ukulele in Hawaii in 1879 through the mid-1990s.
The book is divided into four sections: history, notable ukulele players (from Hawaii and the mainland United States), ukulele manufacturers, and influence on popular culture. An index bibliography and lists of resources are included at the back.
This book is not laid out or formatted particularly well. The layout of the photographs on some pages and the text around the photographs on others as well as the choice of some backgrounds and background colors impair the readability of the text. The captions for the illustrations are often set to the side instead of being directly beneath the illustrations that they are intended to describe.
Because this book attempts to be a coffee table book as well as an informational text, it is not effectively either. And because it was written in the mid-1990s, the information it contains is out-of-date. It doesn't not include the ukulele's third wave of popularity, and most contemporary readers probably encountered the ukulele during this third wave. A more accurate title would be 'the ukulele: the first 100 years: an illustrated guide' or 'the ukulele: an illustrated early history' instead of "the ukulele: a visual history." A more accurate title would have changed my expectations as a reader, and I would have rated the book higher.
This book does have lots of good points. The ukulele's early history in chapter 1 is this book's strength. It’s accurate and as in-depth as summary information can be. There is a detailed description about how the instrument developed and then became part of Hawaiian culture.
The historical photographs are probably the next best feature. The book is filled with photos of instruments, notable players, and ukulele-related ephemera. Although, often there are photographs and movie stills described in the text that do not appear in the book, which can be frustrating. Maybe licensing said photos was too expensive, e.g. Marilyn Monroe playing a ukulele. But why mention them at all, especially in the days before Google and the internet? It would have been better to create sidebar lists of actors/actresses and popular musicians who played the ukulele instead is picking a handful to discuss especially if not all the subjects are going to be pictured.
Due to the book's age, the discussion of famous ukulele players has some glaring omissions such as Jake Shimabukuro, arguably the most famous contemporary Hawaiian ukulele virtuoso, and James Hill, arguably the most famous contemporary mainland North American ukulele virtuoso. Both of these musicians began their careers in the early 2000s, and both are helping to transform the ukulele from a cultural curiosity to a legitimate instrument worthy of inclusion in ensembles of all musical genres in the eyes of the general public.
The information about ukulele manufactures is mostly historical. The discussion of Hawaii-based ukulele makers still in business is limited to Kamaka although KoAloha is mentioned in the contemporary manufacturers sidebar at the end of this chapter. As of the early to mid 2020s, the Hawaiian ukulele manufacturers comprise of the 4 Ks: Kamaka, Kanile'a, KoAloha, and Ko'olau. Likewise, Martin and Gibson are the focus of mainland ukulele production along with other mostly historical, e.g. out-of-business, manufacturers. (I was happy to see Harmony included as a US manufacturer.) While Martin and Gibson still do make a small number of ukuleles, the most popular contemporary US-based ukulele manufactures are Ohana and Kala. The section on plastic ukuleles produced from the 1940s through the 1960s is great. (As a mainlander, those are the only ukuleles I ever recall seeing those as a child. I would occasionally come across them in junk shops as well as attics and basements.) The section on metal resonator ukuleles is interesting as well. This chapters has some of the best photographs in the book.
Overall, despite lacking up-to-date information about the ukulele world, this book would make a pleasant read or flip through for ukulele players and enthusiasts. The photos of vintage instruments are well worth a perusal.
The book is divided into four sections: history, notable ukulele players (from Hawaii and the mainland United States), ukulele manufacturers, and influence on popular culture. An index bibliography and lists of resources are included at the back.
This book is not laid out or formatted particularly well. The layout of the photographs on some pages and the text around the photographs on others as well as the choice of some backgrounds and background colors impair the readability of the text. The captions for the illustrations are often set to the side instead of being directly beneath the illustrations that they are intended to describe.
Because this book attempts to be a coffee table book as well as an informational text, it is not effectively either. And because it was written in the mid-1990s, the information it contains is out-of-date. It doesn't not include the ukulele's third wave of popularity, and most contemporary readers probably encountered the ukulele during this third wave. A more accurate title would be 'the ukulele: the first 100 years: an illustrated guide' or 'the ukulele: an illustrated early history' instead of "the ukulele: a visual history." A more accurate title would have changed my expectations as a reader, and I would have rated the book higher.
This book does have lots of good points. The ukulele's early history in chapter 1 is this book's strength. It’s accurate and as in-depth as summary information can be. There is a detailed description about how the instrument developed and then became part of Hawaiian culture.
The historical photographs are probably the next best feature. The book is filled with photos of instruments, notable players, and ukulele-related ephemera. Although, often there are photographs and movie stills described in the text that do not appear in the book, which can be frustrating. Maybe licensing said photos was too expensive, e.g. Marilyn Monroe playing a ukulele. But why mention them at all, especially in the days before Google and the internet? It would have been better to create sidebar lists of actors/actresses and popular musicians who played the ukulele instead is picking a handful to discuss especially if not all the subjects are going to be pictured.
Due to the book's age, the discussion of famous ukulele players has some glaring omissions such as Jake Shimabukuro, arguably the most famous contemporary Hawaiian ukulele virtuoso, and James Hill, arguably the most famous contemporary mainland North American ukulele virtuoso. Both of these musicians began their careers in the early 2000s, and both are helping to transform the ukulele from a cultural curiosity to a legitimate instrument worthy of inclusion in ensembles of all musical genres in the eyes of the general public.
The information about ukulele manufactures is mostly historical. The discussion of Hawaii-based ukulele makers still in business is limited to Kamaka although KoAloha is mentioned in the contemporary manufacturers sidebar at the end of this chapter. As of the early to mid 2020s, the Hawaiian ukulele manufacturers comprise of the 4 Ks: Kamaka, Kanile'a, KoAloha, and Ko'olau. Likewise, Martin and Gibson are the focus of mainland ukulele production along with other mostly historical, e.g. out-of-business, manufacturers. (I was happy to see Harmony included as a US manufacturer.) While Martin and Gibson still do make a small number of ukuleles, the most popular contemporary US-based ukulele manufactures are Ohana and Kala. The section on plastic ukuleles produced from the 1940s through the 1960s is great. (As a mainlander, those are the only ukuleles I ever recall seeing those as a child. I would occasionally come across them in junk shops as well as attics and basements.) The section on metal resonator ukuleles is interesting as well. This chapters has some of the best photographs in the book.
Overall, despite lacking up-to-date information about the ukulele world, this book would make a pleasant read or flip through for ukulele players and enthusiasts. The photos of vintage instruments are well worth a perusal.
January 4, 2021
What an excellent work of art and reference! Every Uke player should own this reference! Bravo!
November 14, 2019
The most perfect book I have ever read?
June 10, 2008
A charming little book with lots of pictures, easy to read, very informative.
January 18, 2010
A wonderful study of the history of the uke. Great stories and photos.
February 4, 2011
Excellent book about the history of this fun little instrument! Recommended for anyone with any interest at all in this instrument!
June 2, 2012
Excellent historical overview with lots of great pictures.
August 17, 2012
This book is from the 90's and is in serious need of a refresh. Although you can still get the history and an idea about the popularity of this fascinating instrument.
November 15, 2010
Fun book but the print is so tiny! A good one for any uke enthusiast.
January 17, 2015
Really nice review of the history of the Uke. Nice to have some artist names to look up recordings.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews