New Famous Ukulele Players – Zach Braff.

Amazing news for everyone!

Johnny Depp 'Playing' Ukulele

Johnny Depp ‘Playing’ Ukulele

Jonny Depp (according to the Daily Star. Make of that what you will.)
“is rummaging around his dressing-up box in preparation to play 1930s Lancashire comedian George Formby.

Johnny, 50, has become a huge fan of the cheeky seaside entertainer since learning to play the ukulele-banjo – an instrument used by George.

In fact, Johnny’s latest party piece is performing a medley of Formby’s signature hits such as When I’m Cleaning Windows and Leaning On A Lamp-post.

Our man added: “Britain is like a second home to Johnny. He’s always filming here and especially loves the humour and music.””

4 Jan, edit: You probably already know this, but Johnny Depp is sadly not learning to play the ukulele. There have been a lot of ‘is he/isn’t he’ debates, and even reports of a trip to Wigan (George Formby’s home town, as it was reported that Johnny Depp was going to play George Formby in a film.) but there have been no conclusive sightings, either of Johnny Depp with a ukulele, or in Wigan.  Sorry to disappoint you all.

Also, Zach Braff (of Scrubs, Garden State, and many more) is learning ukulele for his latest role in Bullets Over Broadway.

Zach Braff learning ukulele for his latest role

Zach Braff learning ukulele for his latest role

If you want to see videos and find out who else is famous and plays the ukulele, see our page ‘famous ukulele players’, here.

Postman Pat playing the Ukulele?

Postman Pat on the ukulele?

Ukulele fever seems to have taken the whole world by storm, as even our Children’s Entertainment icon, Postman Pat is now playing one!  Good that we can add him to our list of famous ukulele players, including:

  • Amy Winehouse
  • Eddie Vedder
  • Florence Welsh
  • Frank Skinner
  • George Clooney
  • Iz
  • Jake Shimabukuro
  • James Hill
  • Jason Robards
  • JJ from Skins
  • Joe Brown
  • Jon Bon Jovi
  • Joseph Gordon-Levitt
  • Kermit the Frog
  • King Blues
  • Marilyn Monroe
  • Matthew Morrison
  • Neil Armstrong (Yes, the first man in space)
  • Noah and the Whale
  • Paul McCartney
  • Peter Sellers
  • Ryan Gosling
  • Steve Martin
  • Tom Hanks
  • Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain
  • Warren Buffet
  • Will Smith
  • Zooey Deschanel

Yes, that’s right.  All those people have done artistic things with ukuleles.  See proof for yourself, on video right here.

RIP Bob Brozman

Bob Brozman, legendary player of stringed instruments.

Bob Brozman, legendary player of stringed instruments.

On Thursday 25 April, the world lost a fine musician and man. Bob Brozman passed away, aged 59.

Bob Brozman, who I first heard about when he was (at that time) the only man attributed to a quote about the ukulele that I found in google in 2007.  The lovely quote, which I quoted on the footer of emails from Ukulele Wednesdays:

“The Ukulele is a noble instrument.  Anyone serious about music will eventually come to play one.”

Bob was not just any ukulele player.  He was an excellent stringed musician who did unbelievable things with ukuleles.  Watch here to see for yourself:

When he played in London, he used to come to play at the Half Moon pub in Putney.  A real shame that we won’t get to see him play again.

RIP Bob Brozman.