DISCOGRAPHY
Dick
Dujour - The Zombie Walk, 2009
The dance sensation
that's creeping out the nation. DJs and program directors
wishing copies for airplay consideration please email jayme
at purrgirl dot com with "Zombie Walk" in the subject
line.
Be sure to include a shipping address.
The UkeAholics — Rock n' Roll with
a Twist, 2008
Ukulele
Dick, Sandor Nagyszalanczy and Eric Connoly
perform songs from the 50s and 60s on a vast array
of acoustic, electric and eclectic ukuleles. The British
meets the Ukulele Invasion.
Dick Dujour — Music
to Scare Children By, 2005 • Click here to find it on iTunes!
As a theatrical sound designer, Dick has created sonic landscapes
for countless live productions of all kinds. Couple that theatrical sensibility
and technical wizardy with a sly lyricism, and the result is 12 original
songs that delight in the essential irony of the human condition and
revel in our inexorable mortality. As heard on The Dr. Demento
show!
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
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
This is All
You Get — Ukulele Dick and His All Nude Castanet
Orchestra, 1991
10 original songs, independently released
Art by John Poole
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PRODUCER/CREATOR
Jugtown, USA
In honor of Motown's 50th anniversary,
Jugtown USA features the classic hits (and complete
arrangements) of Motown, played on instruments anyone can afford.
Funny man Sven Davis weaves an historical narrative around a multi-talented
nine-piece band playing the orchestral arrangements of Motown on suitcase
drums, pie plates, kazoos, beer-o-phones and the like. The sold out audience
clapped and sang along in ecstacy to this live, never-been-done-before,
re-creation of "the music we mated to."
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 White
Album Ensemble gone on to create a wide variety of Beatles-themed shows
featuring Northern California's greatest talents, and raised thousands
of dollars for local school music programs in the process.
"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.
LUTHIER
Owner, Guitar Works — Located in Felton, California.
Call 831/335-3593 for an appointment.
Rick McKee (Ukulele Dick) repairs musical instruments of
all varieties, specializing in fretted stringed
instruments. Nearly 10,000 guitars have passed through Rick's
hands since he began practicing his craft in 1972. As sole
proprietor of Guitar Works since 1984, Rick has been a supporter
and advisor to countless local musicians.
Designer — Rick also
designs and builds one-of-a-kind electronic guitars,
cigar box ukuleles and - recently - mandolas and electric
slide dulcimers. Click here for the Attack of the Guitar
from Outer Space, Rick's latest creation.
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.
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 video
interview of the exhibit.
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SIGNIFICANT PERFORMANCES
Dick & The Chick Introduce the Show —
current
Professional emcees Ukulele
Dick and Mona Lott
provide polished, professional introductions that are also
unusual and comedic pieces of art. For each show,
Dick and Mona write a parody song specific to the act being
introduced. These colorful intros communicate the objectives
of the venue while whipping the crowd into a pre-show frenzy.
Planet Cruz
Comedy Hour, 2008 — Musical director
for the inaugural season of comedian Richard Stockton's left
coast version of A Prairie Home Companion
Dick, Mick
& The Chick 2007 - 2008
Three wildly different
songwriters in the round backing each other on a
wide variety of instruments - 27 at last count. Featuring
Dick Dujour, Mick Overman and
Jayme Kelly Curtis
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
— Emcee and performer. Provided inspiration for Uke Fest
West
Lecturer, 2004 — 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.
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.
Ukulele Dick is a regular presence on KPIG's
Please Stand By live music radio show and is 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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SOUND DESIGN, MUSICAL DIRECTION
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Planet Cruz
Comedy Hour — Musical director for
comedian Richard
Stockton's left coast version of A Prairie
Home Companion. Recorded live at the Kuumbwa Jazz
Center; airs on KUSP and Community Television
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Blue Skies Forerver — Original
music for Claire Braz-Valentine's
world premier mystery about Amelia Earhart
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Shakespeare Santa
Cruz
Damn Yankees
The Rape of Tamar – World premier
Awarded LA Critic’s Circle Dramalogue for Sound Design
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Cabrillo Stage
Camelot
Evita
Into the Woods
My Fair Lady
Sound of Music
South Pacific
Sweeny Todd
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Actor's
Theatre
8 10's @ 10 – six seasons
Angry Housewives
Amazon Allstars
Approaching Zanzibar
To The Dump
Loot
Numerous staged readings
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New
Music Works 1985 - 1996
Technical support, live recording and sound
design for numerous live concerts and musical theatre
productions
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Netless Theatre Company
American Buffalo
Appalachian Ebenezer
Barefoot in the Park
Brilliant Traces
Of Mice and Men
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Sound designer and consultant
for numerous other regional theatre companies
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EDUCATION
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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IT'S IN THE GENES
~ LAFE McKEE
Ukulele Dick is the grandson of Lafe McKee
(Lafayette Stocking McKee 1872 - 1959), a supporting player
who appeared in more than 400 Hollywood serials and westerns
from 1912 through the 40s. 
Film historian William K. Everson called him
"The Grand Old Man of Westerns." According to the All Movie
Guide, "Lafe McKee played opposite every cowboy hero on the Hollywood
range, from Tom Mix to Gary Cooper."
Lafe mostly played incidental characters,
such as the heroine's father, the victimized homesteader, the
kindly sheriff, various old codgers and, occassionally,
the villain. He directed "Lone Hand Wilson" in 1920 under the
name L.S. McKee.
Some of Lafe's notable films include "Mr.
Deeds Goes to Town" (1936), "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington"
(1939), and "Meet John Doe" (1941) "In the Days of Buffalo Bill"
(as Robert E. Lee, 1922), "Rawhide" (1926), "Men Without Law" (1930),
"End of the Trail" (1932), "Blue Steel" (1934), "Gun Smoke" (1935),
and "The Lone Ranger" (serial, 1938).
In addition to his film career, Lafe performed
as a leading man in touring stock companies before making his
movie debut at 40 in 1912. There is now an annual Lafe McKee Film
festival in his hometown of Morrison, Illinois.
Links to video clips are available at http://www.kosmix.com/topic/Lafe_McKee
Several bios are available on line:
http://www.allmovie.com/artist/lafe-lafayette-mckee-47672
http://www.b-westerns.com/villainz.htm
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=5802
A list of film titles can be found at: http://www.citwf.com/person292486.htm
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CONTACT
Ukulele Dick,
aka Dick Dujour, 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!
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