4,234th Most Famous Ukulele Player in the World

My dad recently sent me this graphic to brighten my day:

Hilarious. 

Fame.  

I've occasionally quipped that I'm the 4,234th most famous ukulele player in the world.  The number hasn't always been exactly that, but some random number high enough to make the claim feasible but also ludicrous in being ironicaly proud of such a stat.  

Of course, there is no such list, but could one be made? With AI these days, I've been astounded on the kind of data compilation and research it can do. Here's some interesting results I've gleaned when asking AI (Google's Gemini) about ukulele players today. 

•  I wanted to know first how many people in the world today regularly post videos on youtube or other platforms featuring themselves playing ukulele.  Of course, it hedged when answering about the vagueness of the term "regularly", but after some refining its level of certainty using a ranges, it can be said that number is somewhere between 3,000 to 20,000 individuals.  
  
  
• People who make their living as ukulele players - either as musicians, teachers or both - is somewhere around 10,000. 
  
  
• There are over a million ukulele players in the world. 
  
  
• It compiled a list of the 100 most notable active ukulele players in the world...   In any case, asking it to expand that list into the 1000's to see if my quip was at all accurate, seemed a bit of a reach.  
  
  

  
  

  1. Jake Shimabukuro (USA)
  2. James Hill (Canada)
  3. Sarah Maisel (USA)
  4. Herb Ohta Jr. (USA)
  5. Taimane Gardner (USA)
  6. Brittni Paiva (USA)
  7. Andrew Molina (USA)
  8. Kaleo Trinidad (USA)
  9. Cynthia Lin (USA)
  10. Aldrine Guerrero (USA)
  11. Victoria Vox (USA/Luxembourg)
  12. Stuart Fuchs (USA)
  13. Lil Rev (USA)
  14. Craig Chee (USA)
  15. Abe Lagrimas Jr. (USA)
  16. Neal Chin (USA)
  17. Del Rey (USA)
  18. Bosko (Australia)*
  19. George Hinchliffe (UK)*
  20. Steven Espaniola (USA)
  21. Kalei Gamiao (USA)
  22. Kris Fuchigami (USA)
  23. Benny Chong (USA)
  24. Bryan Tolentino (USA)
  25. Jim Beloff (USA)
  26. Jake Wildwood (USA)
  27. Fred Sokolow (USA)
  28. Daniel Ho (USA)
  29. Ledward Kaapana (USA)
  30. Uke Mullens (USA)
  31. Buck Berger (USA)
  32. Marcy Marxer (USA)
  33. Cathy Fink (USA)
  34. Gerald Ross (USA)
  35. Andy Eastwood (UK)
  36. Peter Moss (UK)
  37. Samantha Muir (UK)
  38. Phil Doleman (UK)
  39. Sophie Madeleine (UK)
  40. Zoë Bestel (UK)
  41. Manitoba Hal Brolund (Canada)
  42. Ralph Shaw (Canada)
  43. Feng E (Taiwan)
  44. Honoka Katayama (Japan)*
  45. Hiroshi Okada (Japan)
  46. Kazuyuki Sekiguchi (Japan)
  47. Ryo Montgomery (Japan)
  48. Corey Fujimoto (USA)
  49. Dani Joy (USA)
  50. Perry Stauffer (USA)
  51. Liz Beloff (USA)
  52. Kevin Carroll (USA)
  53. Joel Eckhaus (USA)
  54. John King (USA)
  55. Paul Luongo (Canada)
  56. Sarah Spencer (USA)
  57. James Grant (Canada)
  58. Rachel Manke (USA)
  59. Casey MacGill (USA)
  60. The Quiet American (USA)*
  61. AJ Leonard (Australia)
  62. Mark Jackson (USA)*
  63. Ben Rouse (UK)
  64. Eva Eastman (USA)
  65. Susan Fink (USA)
  66. Jim D'Ville (USA)
  67. Freddie Coldwell (UK)
  68. Tobias Elofsson (Sweden)
  69. Grégoire Garrigues (France)
  70. Luca Stricagnoli (Italy)
  71. Marty Mulhauser (USA)
  72. Kimo Hussey (USA)
  73. Derick Sebastian (USA)
  74. Ronnie Blake (USA)
  75. Ukulele Simon (USA)*
  76. Kevin Kealoha (USA)
  77. Roy Sakuma (USA)*
  78. Sarah Jaffe (USA)
  79. Julia Nunes (USA)
  80. Vance Joy (Australia)
  81. Eddie Vedder (USA)
  82. Dominator Ukulele (Australia)*
  83. Eve Blair (UK)
  84. Ian Emmerson (UK)
  85. Jonty Bankes (UK)
  86. Elle-May Leckenby (UK)
  87. Neal Zaza (USA)
  88. Victoria Case (USA)
  89. Ukulele Tonya (USA)
  90. Ben Baker (USA)
  91. Christy Kuesel (USA)
  92. Daniel Ward (USA)
  93. Dusty Trails (USA)*
  94. Emily Arrow (USA)
  95. Heidi Swedberg (USA)
  96. Herb Ohta III (USA)
  97. Joel Mabus (USA)
  98. Kevin Richards (USA)
  99. Lori Cullen (Canada)
  100. Lynda Barry (USA)*

  
  

After the Earthquake, I Go Back to Tasmania

 On 28 March, 2025, the most powerful earthquake in more than a century hit Myanmar, and it was centered no more than 10km from my home here in Mandalay.  I'll describe my experience and share pictures in a later post. 

It's a week later and my home internet is down.  I'm happy to report that is about the worst of the hardships I'm facing personally.  As a result, I've got lots of computing time offline.  My last significant overseas vacation was way back in January of 2020, just as COVID was starting to become a topic of discussion.  

So far, I've created 11 videos of that trip, but it remains incomplete. 

Here now finally are parts 12 and 13. 

Enjoy! 

 

Fashion Quiz - Future Present or Future Past

I spend too much time making these things. 

Maps - How a 20 Year-old song took over Tik Tok

 Do you remember the Yeah Yeah Yeah's? The Strokes? Interpol?  These were alt rock bands which brought about a bit of a revival of the New York City rock music scene in the early 2000's significant enough that even guys like me in their early 30's at the time, paid attention to it. Although I can't find much reference to it researching it now, back then, it was called the "New York Sound". 

About a week ago, a friend of mine asked me to listen to
something that was trending heavily on TikTok, and did I know it. Of course I did. Maps, by the Yeah YEah Yeah's.  Great song. Hadn't heard it in years.  Well, it trended all right. 

Someone noted in a comment: from 10 million views 2 weeks ago, to 2 billion now.  

As it fit this week's Seasons of the Ukulele theme perfectly, I had to bust a cover...

The Vanity Search powered by ChatGPT

 A new term came into the public conscious a decade ago or so. The "Vanity Search" or "Vanity Google" is when a person types their own name into a search bar just to see what comes up.

Admit it, most of us have done so.  I certainly have.  

What happens if one takes that general idea and adds in AI tools?

It wasn't purely out of vanity - I was updating my LinkedIn profile - a place to toot your own horn, for sure, but seemed like the perfect application for Chat GPT..  My horn feels full tooted. 

Gilbert Apollo MacKenna, better known as Joko MacKenna, has carved a distinctive niche as both a travel videographer and an expert in English language education, particularly in preparing students for exams like the IELTS.

As a travel content creator, Joko’s work largely focuses on exploring Southeast Asia, with a particular emphasis on Myanmar, where he’s spent significant time capturing the region’s diverse cultures and landscapes. His storytelling and visuals highlight lesser-known locales, aiming to provide an authentic glimpse into life beyond the typical tourist trail. His blog posts and travel pieces often include reflections on his experiences with local people, their challenges, and the subtleties of regional languages​

In the educational sphere, Joko’s background as an IELTS instructor is notable. He specializes in teaching exam-specific strategies and skills to non-native speakers, focusing on improving their English proficiency to meet academic and immigration requirements. His experience includes both group classes and personalized coaching sessions, leveraging years of on-the-ground teaching in Thailand and Myanmar​. . His approach often integrates real-world language use, which resonates with learners aiming for practical application.

Beyond the classroom, Joko has shared insights through various online platforms, where he blends humor and practical advice, especially for expats adjusting to life in new countries. Whether discussing language barriers or the quirks of local transportation systems, his content is a mix of education and travel storytelling designed to entertain and inform.

Joko has built up quite a presence online for his ukulele music videos. His content features covers of popular songs as well as original compositions, shared across platforms like YouTube and possibly other video-hosting sites. The vibe of his work reflects a mix of laid-back island-style jams and intricate fingerpicking, with a focus on spreading a joyful and relaxed atmosphere.

While it appears he's more recognized in niche music communities and social media circles, his videos have a distinct personal touch that resonates with fans of the ukulele genre. His approach emphasizes not just musicality but also the storytelling and cultural elements often associated with this versatile instrument.