KAMUKE: Talk Story Ukulele Russ

When you think of the ukulele, you immediately think of... Alaska? Hailing from The Last Frontier, one-man band Ukulele Russ plays everything from rock'n'roll to funk, bluegrass and hip-hop. We caught up with the Wild Man Of Uke between moose hunts (no, really).

Ukulele Russ - “Big Truck”

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

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.

Midland Reporter: Ukulele Russ from Alaska set to entertain in Kalamunda

It’s quite unusual for international ukulele players to visit Perth, let alone Kalamunda, so the visit is quite unique and being looked forward to by many music fans and uke players. He [Copelin] is a great live performer, chatty, he can play at least 14 instruments and creates material on the spot.

Access: Ukulele tour gives young professionals valuable business experience.

An Australian concert tour that not only brings one of the best-known ukulele players to his fans, but provides essential work skills that will boost the CVs of aspiring young professionals. Those in the know love how the ‘uke’ lends itself to a broad repertoire, from rock to RnB, jazz, funk and blues, country and even metal! And no one demonstrates its versatility better than Alaska’s “Ukulele Russ”.