The world’s oldest musician is closing in on 101 and still performing live!
Bill Tapia, who is known as the Duke of Uke, played with Bing, Louis and Fats and still has the wit and skill to delight audiences all across America.
He says he’s the only musician alive who played in World War I. At the age of 10, he created his own rendition of Stars and Stripes forever that he played for the troops that first brought him popularity and commercial success.
He bought his own ukulele in 1915 for 75 cents. In the 1930s her pioneered the Hawaiian Swing sound.
He tells Growing Bolder that he still attracts groupies on the road — only he can’t remember what to do with them!