Jakes Shimabukuro played in Bellingham,Wa. tonight in a theatre built around 1920. It's grown since then and has become a cultural hub for incoming acts on their way to Vancouver Canada or down to Seattle.
I'm part of a uke group that was asked to do the pre show for the patrons of the theatre. First time any entertainment at a pre show. Normally, there is a get together and at the end, the guest comes in for a meet and greet along with answering questions from the audience.
He was really a nice guy. Before the patrons entered and we were getting ready, he came in and shook our hands along with checking out some of the instruments the group has. One being my contra baritone. He thought it was really nice and did a few strums on it. He left, we did the show with his coming back for the questions and answers.
On one of the last songs, Georgia on my mind, I do a solo. I found out later he was on the side listening and started playing backup while I played and clapped after I finished. Glad I didn't know he was there or probably would have messed up more than I thought I did. We always hear our own mistakes lol.
He entered the room after we finished and he did the question and answers less than two feet away from me. I could have reached and grabbed his phone out of his back pocket easily.
Have met and worked with well known people before. He was so humble and forth coming. A real pleasure being around him and his being so gracious allowing us to play before his concert.
Was a lot of fun and still coming down from the great fun it was. Normally we do assisted facilities etc. bringing music to those who otherwise wouldn't have the opprotunity; like so many of you do. Was a rush playing to a very sophisticated audience and experiencing what a truly humble nice man Jake is.
I'm part of a uke group that was asked to do the pre show for the patrons of the theatre. First time any entertainment at a pre show. Normally, there is a get together and at the end, the guest comes in for a meet and greet along with answering questions from the audience.
He was really a nice guy. Before the patrons entered and we were getting ready, he came in and shook our hands along with checking out some of the instruments the group has. One being my contra baritone. He thought it was really nice and did a few strums on it. He left, we did the show with his coming back for the questions and answers.
On one of the last songs, Georgia on my mind, I do a solo. I found out later he was on the side listening and started playing backup while I played and clapped after I finished. Glad I didn't know he was there or probably would have messed up more than I thought I did. We always hear our own mistakes lol.
He entered the room after we finished and he did the question and answers less than two feet away from me. I could have reached and grabbed his phone out of his back pocket easily.
Have met and worked with well known people before. He was so humble and forth coming. A real pleasure being around him and his being so gracious allowing us to play before his concert.
Was a lot of fun and still coming down from the great fun it was. Normally we do assisted facilities etc. bringing music to those who otherwise wouldn't have the opprotunity; like so many of you do. Was a rush playing to a very sophisticated audience and experiencing what a truly humble nice man Jake is.
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