Ukulele Russ - “Big Truck”

Ukulele Russ and the Parks Highway Band perform at the Howling Dog Saloon on Halloween night in Fairbanks, Alaska.

Daily News-Minder, Fairbanks: Alaska musician takes the ukulele to entertaining heights

With a stage name like Ukulele Russ, one might imagine Hawaiian shirts and inoffensive luau music or maybe a bunch of kid-friendly songs espousing the benefits of making friends and learning to tie shoes. But that’s about as far away from reality as possible.

Got A Ukulele: The Ukulele Russ Interview

Is 'the wild man of ukulele' that his nickname? I have no idea - but I just called him that. We talk regularly online but only recently have schedules collided to enable us to talk in more detail about his stuff.

HorizonThink: Russell Copelin (Ukulele Russ) in Kalamunda, Western Australia

Known for both his musical workshop and live performance ability Russ leaves a lasting impression and motivation with participants and audiences. The workshop in Kalamunda sold out several days before the event.

Central Maine: Maine native returns to uke it up.

Everybody has this preconceived notion that I’m going to be singing songs about beaches and rainbows and playing all happy songs. That’s really what people think about when they think ukulele — ‘Aww, it’s that cute little guitar from Hawaii.' Instead, he brings rock, blues, tongue-in-cheek and a catalog as varied as “You’re the One,” a sweet song to his wife, Dixmont native Lindsey, to “Two Ply,” a Stevie Wonder-ish ode to toilet paper.