of Rick "Ukulele Dick" McKee
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Performing Musician, Recording
Artist, Singer/Songwriter, Actor, Producer, Sound Designer, Luthier/Master
Instrument Repairman, Collector and
Musical Archivist
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Performing Musician, Recording
Artist, Singer/Songwriter, Actor, Producer, Sound Designer, Luthier/Master
Instrument Repairman, Collector and
Musical Archivist
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| DISCOGRAPHY Dick Dujour — Music to Scare Children By, 2005 12 original songs that delight in the essential irony of the human condition and revel in our inexorable mortality. Performers include Bob Burnett, Brian Loftus, Marshall Kleinbard, Katie McKee, Tiran Porter, Dan Robbins, Stewart Smith, Annie Steinhardt and Tired Willie Ukulele Dick — The Ukulele Dick Story, 2003 CD and 24-page booklet track the musical journey of Ukulele Dick from Prohibition through the Disco era through 21 classic songs. Of particular note is a hip hop version of "Swinging on a Star." Performers include Rob Espinosa, Jim Greiner, Michelle Kiba, Ken Kraft, Jim Norris, Tiran Porter, Blind Willie, Zun Zun, and many, many more. Story by Rick McKee and Sven Davis Ukulele Dick – Self Titled, 1997 15 classic songs from the 1920's and 30's performed in various styles of the jazz era. Ukulele Dick earned praise from Kurt Vonnegut, Jr., George Harrison and William H. Macy. The CD features performances by 27 local musicians, including Bill Walker, Annie Steinhardt and the Paris String Quartet This is All You Get — Ukulele Dick and His All Nude Castanet Orchestra, 1991 10 original songs, independently released The UkeAholics — Rock n' Roll with a Twist, 2008 Ukulele Dick, Sandor Nagyszalanczy and Eric Connoly perform songs from the 50s, 60s and 70s on a vast array of acoustic, electric and eclectic ukuleles. The British meets the Ukulele Invasion. Bread, 2002 — Selections from the musical by Joe Ortiz, including the hit song "Watsonville." My Heart's In Santa Cruz, 1995 Producer and performer on a collection of songs about Santa Cruz collected and written by co-producer Ross Gibson |
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| PRODUCER/CREATOR The White Album Live The world's first accurate, fully detailed, live re-creation of the Beatle's White Album, a feat even the Beatles had never attempted. Gathered together an ensemble of musical elites including Michael Daughtery, Bob Bliss, Richard Bryant, Alan Heit, Ken Kraft, Dale Ockerman, Tiran Porter, and Jason Schimmel. The first White Album Live shows presented at the Rio Theatre and the Mello Center were multi-media events, featuring dancers, video projection and a 60's psychedelic environment conceived of by Ukulele Dick. Since the initial performances, the band has gone out on its own and has raised thousands of dollars for local school music programs. The White Album Ensemble has since created three more shows: Rubber Revolver, Sgt. Pepper's Magical Mystery Tour, and Let Abbey Road Be. "Many people felt they would enjoy the concert. But a common response in the wake of those shows was that people weren't merely entertained, but transformed," said Wallace Baine, Santa Cruz Sentinel, 9/25/03 Keep Santa Cruz Weird in Concert, The Rio Theatre, Halloween, 2005 A vaudeville variety show featuring Sven Davis, The Great Morgani, the Gurgling Sopranos Red Wine Ensemble (Paula Bliss and Pipa Pinon), Tim Furst of the Flying Karamazovs, the UkeAholics, Oliver Brown, New Music Works maestro Phil Collins, Elsewhere Troupe from Electron Salon, Ross Eric Gibson, Iman Lizarazu, Gong Master Sadanam, Charlie Tweddle and Zunzun. Pre-show highlights included Halloween carols such as “Witches Roasting On An Open Fire.” Ukulele Dick Serves Hors-d'oeuvres, 1999, Actor's Theatre Vaudeville-style variety show featuring a broad spectrum of iconic and lesser known performers including Santa Cruz Ballet Petit Company choreographed by Stephanie Golino, guitarist Kenny Hill and Phil Collins, both on ukuleles, the Ukin’ Elvises and Ross Gibson performing songs of Santa Cruz. Guests were treated to locally grown organic hors-d’oeuvres and champagne in the lobby. Uke Fest West, 2004 Conceived, performed, Master of Ceremonies, steering committee Airwaves, 1986 –1989 Owned and operated a jingle company writing and producing jingles for numerous regional clients including Big Creek Lumber, Marina Pontiac, Pacific Pack & Pants, Capitola Mercantile, CM & Company Jewelers, Ocean Chevrolet, University Alumni Association, Yosemite Fund. |
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| LUTHIER Owner, Guitar Works Repairs musical instruments of all varieties, specializing in fretted stringed instruments. Designs and builds one-of-a-kind electronic guitars and cigar box ukuleles. Supporter and advisor to numerous local musicians. Rick began practicing his craft in 1972 and has been sole proprietor of Guitar Works since 1984. Guitar Works is located in Felton, California. Call 831/335-3593 for an appointment. Collector 250 rare and vintage ukuleles, many on exhibit August 2007 through January 2008 at the Museum of Making Music, Carlsbad, California. Assisted in conceptualizing, procuring and mounting this exhibit. |
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| ARCHIVIST Santa Cruz Music Archives — Maintains a comprehensive collection of local music recordings and memorabilia. Collection was mounted and displayed at The Attic Gallery. Exhibit featured many performances by local artists throughout the month of December 2005. Click here for a YouTube video of the Attic exhibit. |
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| SIGNIFICANT PERFORMANCES Ukulele Dick gives approximately 50 concerts per year at venues ranging from the Civic Auditorium to Rio Theatre to retirement homes. Over the last 10 years he has given numerous benefit concerts for local organizations such as Grey Bears, Alzheimer’s Walk, Actor’s Theater, Save the Rainforest, Peace Day Planet Cruz Comedy Hour, Ongoing — musical director for comedian Richard Stockton's left coast version of A Prairie Home Companion Bread! The Musical, 2003 — a musical by Joe Ortiz in the role of Dr. Dick Jones Kitchen Cabaret, 2004 — dinner theatre at Michael's on Main featuring songs by Joe Ortiz and story vignettes by local authors, inspired by the music New Music Works Garden Party — performer, technical advisor, recordist Ukulele Hall of Fame Museum Expo, Rhode Island, 2003 — MC and performer. Provided inspiration for Uke Fest West Lecturer, 1994 — Stanford University on the Beatles White Album Technical Consultant, 1996 – 2006 — Audio Descriptive Services for the Visually Impaired at American Musical Theatre, San Jose Center for Performing Arts and other venues in the Bay Area including San Jose Arena and San Francisco Orpheum Theatre Consultant and mentor to numerous productions, companies and artists. Community Activist Supporter of Guitars Not Guns, Music in the Schools and numerous other causes. Regular presence on KPIG's Please Stand By live music radio show and included on Arden Eaton's Take Me Home peace compilation CD. Rick’s song War No More won special recognition from the National chapter of Veterans for Peace |
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Associate of Arts in Fine Arts, 1969 — Pasadena City College Conscientious Objector: Came to Santa Cruz in 1970 to complete alternative service at Goodwill Industries. |
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| Ukulele Dick, aka Rick McKee, can be reached
at ukuleledick at yahoo dot com Or by calling 831/335-3593. Leave a message, he'll call you back! |