From the notes: The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain’s first TV appearance, recorded over twenty years ago, in 1988. The show was the BBC’s Pebble Mill at One, and the clip includes the tunes ‘Red Cross’ and ‘Presto Tango’, and also an interview with George Hinchliffe.
The current line-up of the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain is: George Hinchliffe, Kitty Lux, David Suich, Richie Wiliams, Hester Goodman, Will Grove-White, Peter Brooke Turner and Jonty Bankes.
The very first line-up (in 1985) included Richie Williams (in his first stretch with the Ukes), along with Bob Loveday (of the Penguin Cafe Orchestra), David Bowie (bass), Marshall Stapleton, Paul Griffiths, Andy Astle (co-founder), Jo Brindley (co-founder), Kitty Lux (co-founder and director) and George Hinchliffe (co-founder and director).
On this BBC clip from 1988, the line-up is: George Hinchliffe, Kitty Lux, David Suich, Andy Astle, James Marsh, Liane Kordan, Marshall Stapleton, Nony Ardill, Mary Fitton, Caroline Fitton and Simon Edwards.
interesting seeing a larger orchestra.
it’s especially cool to see the bass being a guitarron. my friend Thadd plays guitarron the same way. we’ve often played with just uke and guitarron and, in fact, that’s the bass on the rendition of my tune “Dr. Hokum & Mr. Jive” on my last CD.
Thadd’s — which he named “Gordita” — has enough volume to work, unamplified, as a street instrument (what they were made for, after all).