sad news indeed. Bill has been one of my heroes for many years. He's a performer who epitomised the pure joy and exhuberance we've come to associate with the ukulele. Great sense of humour, suave as all heck, and virtuosic skill. Glad he was still with us to see the release of his last live recording http://www.fleamarketmusic.com/store/Scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=87
Our great friend and grandfather of the Ukulele, Bill Tapia passed last night in his sleep at age 103.
Volumes of stories and praise will be written for our wonderful friend, and many will do so at a later time,
but for now all our prayers and thoughts are with Bill, his family and many friends.
Aloha Bill. Your legacy remains
EDIT: My bad. I didn't realized this news had been posted earlier.
Mahalo Nui Bill for all you have entertained and taught us about music and the ukulele...and keeping the ukulele movement alive..Rip buddy...I know you will be strummin' that uke up there..
He grew up in the same neighborhood as me a streeto over... about 50 years earlier...Amazing man dedicated to music and the ukulele....Rip Bill mahalo for all you've done and the memories..
Yup from Liliha as well..Just off Kuakini Street across the street of Kuakini Hospital......Da Ole stomping grounds..