Correct!
Here are bits about the story:
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http://database.ukulelecorner.co.uk...t-time-luthiers-from-hawaii/hawaii-luthiers-6
"Tangi were an interesting Hawaiian / Vietnamese outfit founded in 1993 by Blackford 'Tangi' Tully and his father Jim. Some of the Ukuleles were made in Hawaii by luthier Tully, others came via his father from a factory in Vietnam, though the Vietnamese connection stopped before 2009. In 2009 after the death of Jim Tully and with other setbacks, the whole enterprise has been reduced or stopped."
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http://ukuleleguy.com/tag/tangi
Tangi was renowned for making miniature but playable ukuleles, but at one point also made a giant playable ukulele, double bass size. You see Tangi in the photograph. Another speciality of his were the violin ukes, pineapple shaped but with violin-like cornered cutout on the sides, after a sample held at the Bishop Museum in Honolulu.
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http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/11482344/victim-of-savage-beating-wants-witnesses-to-come-forward
"An Oahu man is recovering from multiple injuries, including a broken jaw, following an assault early Sunday morning November 7th 2009. On Wednesday, doctors will perform surgery on Blackford Tully's right eye and then wire his jaw shut. Now, while he can still talk a little, he's asking for witnesses to the attack to come forward. The young men who attacked Tully knocked his right eye socket out of position and broke his jaw in two places. The 51-year-old also has staples holding a wound on the back of his head together. "I didn't really expect this kind of damage over a bicycle," he said. Tully says he was watching a football game with friends at 8 Fat Fat 8 Bar and Grille at about 1 am Sunday, when someone told him his bicycle was being stolen from outside. "I went out and sure enough somebody had grabbed my bike," Tully said. "So I went to grab it back. I got it back and that's when everything went black." Witnesses say the suspects jumped Tully and beat him in the Central Pacific Bank parking lot across the street. The owner of the bar says she previously complained to police about the young men drinking alcohol in the lot and causing trouble. Facing mounting medical bills, the ukulele maker and entertainer says the suspects hurt him physically and financially. "My business was on the verge of shutting down because of the economy and insurance was cancelled because I couldn't pay it anymore," Blackford Tully said."
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https://forum.ukuleleunderground.com/showthread.php?21751-Helping-Tangi
Email, donations and the message that his is selling off his ukulele stock to help pay medical bills.
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http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2009/Dec/04/en/hawaii912040308.html
In December 2009 friends held a benefit concert, and brought out a fundraising CD for Tangi.
- I think he actually stopped building ukuleles, but currently still is a performing artist at Oahu hotels and bars.
