Bill Tapia

Infobox musical artist
Name = Bill "Tappy" Tapia


Img_capt = Uncle Bill "Tappy" Tapia
Img_size =
Landscape =
Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = William Tapia
Alias =
Born = birth date and age|1908|1|1|mf=y
Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.
Died =
Origin =
Instrument =
Genre = Jazz, Hawaiians
Occupation = Singer, Musician
Years_active = 1918 -
Label =
Associated_acts = Bing Crosby, Louie Armstrong, Elvis Presley
URL = [http://www.billtapia.com BillTapia.com]
Notable_instruments = Ukulele, Guitar, Lap Steel

Uncle Bill “Tappy” Tapia (born January 1, 1908) is an American musician, born in Honolulu, Hawaii, of Portuguese parents. At age 10, Tapia was already a professional musician, playing “Stars and Stripes Forever” for World War I troops in Hawaii.

In his long career beginning in Vaudeville and quickly expanding as a jazz guitarist and ukulele player he has performed with names such as Bing Crosby, Louis Armstrong, Elvis Presley and Hawaiian musicians such as King Bennie Nawahi, Sol Ho‘opi’i and Andy Iona. Some believe Tapia is often credited as the first musician to play jazz on the ukulele. He gave a concert on his 100th birthday.

External links

* [http://www.hawaiianconcertguide.com/index.php?post_id=266779 Interview with Uncle Bill Tapia - Part I] - Free internet podcast featuring interview with Uncle Bill Tapia (part 1).
* [http://www.hawaiianconcertguide.com/index.php?post_id=269495 Interview with Uncle Bill Tapia - Part II] - Free internet podcast featuring interview with Uncle Bill Tapia (part 2).
* [http://www.billtapia.com/ Uncle Bill Tapia Official Home Page]
* [http://www.kpfk.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2735&Itemid=79 Podcast interview featuring Uncle Bill's live music and life story.]
* [http://www.walking-iris.com/sweetheartaloha/docs/TYSA_OCReg.html Brief article on the life of Bill Tapia]