en:bio:roy_sakuma

Sakuma, Roy

Roy Sakuma

1948–

After a difficult childhood, Roy Sakuma left secondary school without any qualifications and started learning ukulele with Herb Ohta at the age of 16. Ohta soon used him as a teacher. Since 1971 Sakuma organizes the Ukulele Festival in Kapiolani Park in Waikiki. It is now organized by the non-profit Ukulele Festival Hawaii. Sakuma became one of the most important ukulele teachers in the USA. In 1974 he founded the Roy Sakuma Studios, which today teach numerous students in ukulele play at several locations in Hawaii; Sakuma claimed to have more than 50,000 students. One of these students was Jake Shimabukuro.

You know the beauty about the ukulele is that you can be having a „down“ day and even if you can just strum simple chords you can pick up your ukulele and you can walk into a private area like your bedroom or your bathroom and practise with it. You can take it outside on the grass and practise with it. It’s so very easy to take with you to an area where you’re comfortable. And when you play ukulele you release whatever tension you have.1)

Due to his own traumatic childhood experiences, he encouraged children to talk about their injuries and especially to heal their relationship with their parents. Already in 1970 he composed his signature song „I am what I am“ on this topic.

Videos and Pictures


History of the Ukulele - 'Apanhei-te Cavaquinho' (2012)


Local Heroes: Roy Sakuma (2017)


PBS Hawaii: Roy Sakuma – Part 1 (2008)


PBS Hawaii: Roy Sakuma – Part 2 (2008)


Seymour Kazimirski with Roy Sakuma (2014)


Roy Sakuma Testimony (2018)


Ukulele Festival Hawaii 2011 –„I Am What I Am“ (2011)


Super Keiki Ukulele Itch Supercali (2009)


„Ukulele Itch“ (History of the Ukulele - 'Apanhei-te Cavaquinho') (2012)

References

Links