Roy Sakuma
BornJan 22, 1947
Hawaii
GenresJazz, blues, rock, Hawaiian
Instrument(s)Ukulele
Years active1970–present

Roy Sakuma (born Jan 22, 1947) is a Hawaiian ukulele teacher and has been credited with making the ukulele renaissance possible. Roy Sakuma is the founder of the Ukulele Festival, the world's first and original ukulele festival, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2020.[1]


Beginnings

In the 1960's, as America latched onto the larger, louder, more swaggering guitar, Hawaii's little instrument was relegated to the attic. The ukulele was in near oblivion. Very few people were interested in the ukulele. But Roy Sakuma knew the instrument's true worth and refused to forsake the ukulele.[2] After all, it had turned his young life around. Roy grew up in a home with mental illness. His mother suffered from paranoid schizophrenia, his brother suffered from the same illness and committed suicide. By the age of 14, confused by his home life and the teasing by his peers about his congenital ear deformity, Roy dropped out of school.[3] Then he heard the hit song, “Sushi”, on the radio by ukulele virtuoso Herb “Ohta-San” Ohta, the most prolific ukulele recording artist of his time. "Sushi" was the #1 song for two weeks in Hawaii and also featured on Dick Clark's American Bandstand. Sakuma sought him out and became an avid student. Under the guidance and mentorship of Ohta-San, a whole new world direction and discipline opened up to him. Roy quickly proved himself a stellar student, practicing eight to ten hours a day and set out to become the best ukulele player in the world. Then Ohta-San asked him to teach his classes while he went on a concert tour in Japan.

Sakuma discovered that his true calling was not in performing but in teaching and sharing the joy of the ukulele.[4]

Ukulele Festival Hawaii

More than just a teacher, Roy Sakuma is a preserver of Hawaiian culture and music. While working as a groundskeeper at Kapiolani Park for the City & Count of Honolulu,[5] Sakuma would dream of showcasing the ukulele's versatility and virtuosity with a free concert in the park with the noble goal of ensuring the world would come to love the ukulele. This was at a time when the ukulele was thought of as a toy and everyone wanted to play the guitar. Under the guidance of mentor and friend, Moroni Medeiros at City Hall, Roy presented the world's first and original ukulele festival with the support of sponsors, local musicians, volunteers and friends. The annual Ukulele Festival at Kapiolani Park in Waikiki became a summer tradition and grew into the largest ukulele festival in the world featuring ukulele players from around the world.[6] The highlight of the event is the ukulele orchestra of more than 800 - mostly children. Notable ukulele artists that have participated are Eddie Kamae, Ohta San, Lyle Ritz, Israel Kamakawiwoʻole, Troy Fernandez, and Jake Shimabukuro. National celebrities include singer-songwriter James Ingram, Jack Johnson (musician), and jazz guitarist, Howard Roberts. Today, there are ukulele festivals all over the world. [7]

Ukulele Festival Hawaii celebrated its 50th Anniversary in 2020 with a television documentary hosted by Roy Sakuma and Jake Shimabukuro[8]

After 52 years, Ukulele Festival Hawaii and founders Roy & Kathy Sakuma celebrated their final event in 2022. Dream fulfilled![9]

Roy Sakuma Ukulele Studios

The Roy Sakuma Ukulele Studios opened in 1974.[6] Since then, Roy and his wife, Kathy, have kept Hawaii's cultural mainstay alive by expanding their teaching studios to four locations with their staff of instructors of former students.[10] [11] The Roy Sakuma Method of Ukulele Instruction has brought music to generations of ukulele players and has fostered amateur and professional players alike, many who have gone on to become well-known artists, including Paula Fuga, and Jake Shimabukuro.[12]


Roy Sakuma Productions

As a producer of award-winning albums, Roy Sakuma has brought the versatility of the ukulele to a much wider audience. The Roy Sakuma Productions record label is home to an eclectic, refreshing collection of musical styles connecting us to the heart and soul of Hawaii's rich musical heritage. Award winning artists range from the island contemporary sounds of Ka'au Crater Boys, the ukulele virtuosity of Ohta San and Herb Ohta, Jr., the jazz compositions of drummer Noel Okimoto, and the traditional Hawaiian sounds of Holunape. [13]


Personal life

On October 24, 1976, Roy married Kathy Kawano. Together they have dedicated their lives to spreading the joy of the ukulele, preserving interest in the ukulele, and sharing their message of laughter, love, and hope.

They see a need for students to not only know the music of the ukulele, but to be healed and whole as they face struggles in their lives. Roy Sakuma volunteers his time speaking to school children, sharing candidly about his life experiences regarding mental illness, bullying, suicide, overcoming insecurity.

He teaches his song, "I Am What I Am", composed when he was a confused and broken teenager. He shares the meaning of the song about accepting and being ourselves and that our weaknesses are there to help us find inner strength.[14]


Charity

In 2004, Roy and Kathy Sakuma established Ukulele Festival Hawaii, a nonprofit organization to continue their life's work of supporting free ukulele festivals, showcasing the ukulele as an instrument of virtuosity, providing college scholarships to Hawaii's youth, providing ukulele to those in need and bringing laughter, love, and hope to the world through the ukulele.[15]


Honors[16]

  • 2017 “Living Treasures of Hawaii” acknowledgement by Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii
  • 2016 HARA Lifetime Achievement Award
  • 2016 FBI Director's Community Leadership Award
  • 2014 Peace Day Hawaii honoree for spirited commitment to peace education as music teachers and community peace builders
  • 2010 Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii honoree at their "2010 Celebration of Leadership and Achievement Gala"
  • 2008 SBA’s Business Award for Family-Owned Small Business on Oahu
  • 2007 16th Annual Keep it Hawaii Recognition Awards program, Kahili Award (Individual category, Oahu)
  • 2007 City and County of Honolulu recognition and commendation for lifelong teaching and promotion of the ukulele, for perpetuating the Hawaiian Culture and the Spirit of Aloha, and for spreading the joy of ukulele music and artistry throughout Hawaii and the world
  • 2003 Family Business of the Year award by the University of Hawaii’s Family Business Center of Hawaii
  • 2000 Governor Ben Cayetano proclaims July 30 "Roy Sakuma Day in Hawaii
  • 2000 Award of Merit (presented by Mayor Jeremy Harris) in recognition of over 30 years of contributions to the music and culture of Hawaii

Books

  • Treasury of Ukulele Chords - Roy Sakuma Productions (1998) ISBN 978-0966289701

Video/DVD

  • Learn to Play the Ukulele with Roy Sakuma - Roy Sakuma Productions (2012) ASIN: B0019ZSLZG
  • Ukulele Picking Techniques - Roy Sakuma - (2010) ASIN: 0966289757
  • Roy Sakuma Hawaiian Style Ukulele Basic - Musical House, Hawaii ASIN: B000SUYJXG

Hawaii Academy of Recording Arts Awards[17]

  • 2009 Na Hoku Hanohano Award: Holunape Group of the Year
  • 2009 Na Hoku Hanohano Award: Holunape "Ahea? 'Ano!" Hawaii Album of the Year
  • 2006 Na Hoku Hanohano Award: Holunape Group of the Year
  • 2006 Na Hoku Hanohano Award: Holunape "He 'Olu" Hawaiian Language Performance of the Year
  • 2004 Na Hoku Hanohano Award: Noel Okimoto "Ohana" Jazz Album of the Year
  • 1995 Na Hoku Hanohano Award: Ka'au Crater Boys "On Fire" Contemporary Album of the Year
  • 1995 Na Hoku Hanohano Award: Ka'au Crater Boys "On Fire--Opihi Man" Song of the Year
  • 1994 Na Hoku Hanohano Award: Ka'au Crater Boys "Valley Style" Contemporary Album of the Year
  • 1986 Na Hoku Hanohano Award: Ohta San "Ohta San" Best Instrumental Album

Hawaii Music Awards[18]

  • 2008 Hawaii Music Awards: Ohta San "Spotlight" Instrumental Album of the Year
  • 2004 Hawaii Music Awards: Noel Okimoto Ohana Jazz Album of the Year
  • 2004 Hawaii Music Awards: James Ingram Come and Join Us People’s Choice Winner, Single Record of the Year
  • 2000 Hawaii Music Awards: Roy Sakuma Mayor’s Performing Arts Award

References

  1. ↑ Ching, Jodie. "Roy Sakuma: Laughter, Love and Hope". Zentoku Foundation. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  2. ↑ Kama'ema'e Smith, Katherine (28 July 2017). "POUR ON LAUGHTER, LOVE & HOPE". generations808.c0m. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  3. ↑ "PBS Interviews Roy Sakuma". Pbshawaii.org. Retrieved 2013-06-13.
  4. ↑ "About Roy Sakuma". Roysakuma.net. Retrieved 2013-06-13.
  5. ↑ "PBS Interviews Roy Sakuma". Pbshawaii.org. Retrieved 2013-06-13.
  6. 1 2 Tranquada, Jim (2012). The Ukulele: a History. University of Hawaii Press. p. 157. ISBN 978-0-8248-3544-6.
  7. ↑ "Ukulele Festival Hawaii: About Us". Ukulele Festival Hawaii. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  8. ↑ "50th Anniversary of Ukulele Festival Hawaii". Hawaii News Now. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  9. ↑ "Ukulele Festival Hawaii announces its final year in 2022". KITV 4 Island Television. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  10. ↑ "Roy Sakuma Interview". Hawaii News Now. 2013-04-17. Retrieved 2013-06-13.
  11. ↑ "Roy Sakuma always attuned to teaching". The.honoluluadvertiser.com. 2010-05-09. Retrieved 2013-06-13.
  12. ↑ Tranquada, Jim (2012). The Ukulele: a History. University of Hawaii Press. p. 162. ISBN 978-0-8248-3544-6.
  13. ↑ "Roy Sakuma Productions". Roy Sakuma.net. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  14. ↑ Ching, Jodie. "Roy Sakuma: Laughter, Love and Hope". Zentoku Foundation. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  15. ↑ "Ukulele Festival Hawaii". Ukulele Festival Hawaii. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  16. ↑ "Roy Sakuma History Timeline". RoySakuma.net. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  17. ↑ "Roy Sakuma History Timeline". Roy Sakuma Ukulele Studios. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  18. ↑ "Roy Sakuma History Timeline". Roy Sakuma Ukulele Studios. Retrieved 30 March 2023.



This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.