Bill Tapia
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| Bill "Tappy" Tapia | |
|---|---|
 Uncle Bill "Tappy" Tapia
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | William Tapia |
| Born | January 1, 1908 Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S. |
| Genre(s) | Jazz, Hawaiians |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, Musician |
| Years active | 1918 - |
| Associated acts | Bing Crosby, Louie Armstrong, Elvis Presley |
| Website | BillTapia.com |
| Notable instrument(s) | |
| Ukulele, Guitar, Lap Steel | |
Uncle Bill “Tappy” Tapia (born January 1, 1908) is an American musician, born in Honolulu, Hawaii, of Portuguese parents. At age 10, Tapia was already a professional musician, playing “Stars and Stripes Forever” for World War I troops in Hawaii.
In his long career beginning in Vaudeville and quickly expanding as a jazz guitarist and ukulele player he has performed with names such as Bing Crosby, Louis Armstrong, Elvis Presley and Hawaiian musicians such as King Bennie Nawahi, Sol Ho‘opi’i and Andy Iona. Tapia is often credited as the first musician to play jazz on the ukulele.
[edit] External links
- Interview with Uncle Bill Tapia - Part I - Free internet podcast featuring interview with Uncle Bill Tapia (part 1).
- Interview with Uncle Bill Tapia - Part II - Free internet podcast featuring interview with Uncle Bill Tapia (part 2).
- Uncle Bill Tapia Official Home Page
- Podcast interview featuring Uncle Bill's live music and life story.
- 100th Birthday Concert
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