| Author |
Topic: Gerald Ross - A Time To Come Together - Hawaii Music Awards |
Gerald Ross
From:
Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
|
Posted 5 Feb 2008 9:20 am |
|
To my supporters, my constituents, my friends, my loving wife and my children:
Thank you for your support during this long difficult campaign.
Even though I didn't win the ukulele category of the 2008 Hawaii Music Awards I am proud of my performance in the race.
Yes, I would have enjoyed the commemorative plaque and complimentary buffet but I am at peace with the outcome of the election and confident in the fact that my team waged an honest campaign that didn't resort to childish mudslinging, character defamation or wardrobe malfunctions.
I offer my heartfelt congratulations to the winner of the awards. I'm sure Mr. Shimabukuro will fulfill the responsibilities of the crown, carry the ukulele to greater heights and perhaps get a few more gigs out of the deal.
Now it's time for this ‘ole boy to get back to that little asparagus farm in rural Iowa. It will be a time for personal reflection, a time for healing and a time to work on my diminished scales.
Thank you all,
Gerald Ross 2008
"Four strings are plenty enough"
Seriously,
Thank you all for your votes and good humor.
_________________
Gerald Ross
'Northwest Ann Arbor, Michigan's King Of The Hawaiian Steel Guitar'
A UkeTone Recording Artist
CEO, CIO, CFO - UkeTone Records
Gerald's Hawaiian Steel Guitar/Ukulele Website |
|
|
 |
Bill Creller
From:
Saginaw, Michigan, USA (deceased)
|
Posted 5 Feb 2008 9:32 am
|
|
You are Golden my friend  , Sorry you didn't win, but showing up for the race was a big plus for you. Your humor this morning helped me get started with the day' trials.
Sorry to tell you this GB,but I don't like asparagus.
I didn't do any mud-slinging during your campaign, so your election efforts remain "reasonably" clean.
Your friend
PILA |
|
|
|
Dave Giegerich
From:
Ellicott City, MD, R.I.P.
|
Posted 5 Feb 2008 9:43 am
|
|
Gerald,
I can't believe it is over. While the ultimate goal was not achieved, what we gained during this epic struggle cannot be discounted. You gave us a dream. And as you tend to your beloved asparagus remember that each of us will carry that dream with us and cling to the inspiration you have provided.
Dave |
|
|
|
Bill Leff
From:
Santa Cruz, CA, USA
|
Posted 5 Feb 2008 9:50 am
|
|
Just as I was starting to recover from the devastating loss of Rudy Guiliani in the Republican primary, now this.
Talk about hitting a man when he's down...
 |
|
|
|
Gerald Ross
From:
Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
|
Posted 5 Feb 2008 10:16 am
|
|
BTW, here are the vote tallies for the ukulele category.
Mr Shimabukuro - 1597 votes
2nd place - ?
3rd place Gerald Ross - 617 votes
4th place - ?
5th place - ?
According to the event organizer most of the categories (Rock, reggae, slack key etc.) averaged only about 200-400 votes. So this is pretty good.
I do not know who finished 2nd 4th or 5th.
_________________
Gerald Ross
'Northwest Ann Arbor, Michigan's King Of The Hawaiian Steel Guitar'
A UkeTone Recording Artist
CEO, CIO, CFO - UkeTone Records
Gerald's Hawaiian Steel Guitar/Ukulele Website |
|
|
|
Bill Leff
From:
Santa Cruz, CA, USA
|
Posted 5 Feb 2008 10:22 am
|
|
I supported John Edwards in the Democratic primaries (third place) and Gerald Ross in the Hawaiian Music Awards uke category (third place).
The best don't always win... |
|
|
|
Don Kona Woods
From:
Hawaiian Kama'aina
|
Posted 5 Feb 2008 7:10 pm
|
|
Look folks, there is always next year. 
Another thought: Elections are the purpose of teaching you how to handle real pain in your life.
A comforting thought - there is a year to heal before the next attempt. See above thought! 
Aloha, 
Don |
|
|
|
Mike Neer
From:
NJ
|
Posted 5 Feb 2008 7:17 pm
|
|
Gerald, I hate to tell you this, but I voted 613 times.
_________________
Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links |
|
|
|
Bill Creller
From:
Saginaw, Michigan, USA (deceased)
|
Posted 5 Feb 2008 8:00 pm
|
|
When the Hawaiians find out you came out so good in the awards, they will likely pay more attention to your music. Being the new guy isn't easy. I don't know who the winner is, is he from Hawaii? If so, he has an advantage going in, because he is already known.
Maybe they found out you were growing asparagus.
Ever thought about a taro patch?
The other thing is, have you thought about using a Bakelite uke?? |
|
|
|
Gerald Ross
From:
Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
|
Posted 5 Feb 2008 8:54 pm
|
|
Bill Creller writes:
| Quote: |
I don't know who the winner is, is he from Hawaii? |
Jake "Opening act for Jimmy Buffett" Shimabukuro?
Jake "Going to be on the Conan O'Brien show next week" Shimabukuro?
Jake "28 year old ukulele heart throb" Shimabukuro?
Jake "Full head of hair and 31 inch waist" Shimabukuro?
Jake "Played the National Anthem for the St. Louis Cardinals last year" Shimabukuro.
I joke, but Jake is really quite an amazing musician and entertainer.
_________________
Gerald Ross
'Northwest Ann Arbor, Michigan's King Of The Hawaiian Steel Guitar'
A UkeTone Recording Artist
CEO, CIO, CFO - UkeTone Records
Gerald's Hawaiian Steel Guitar/Ukulele Website |
|
|
|
Gerald Ross
From:
Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
|
Posted 5 Feb 2008 8:55 pm
|
|
Ya know...
Even if I did win, I would have had to finance the airfare and hotel to the Honolulu Awards Show out of my own pocket and most likely wouldn't have gone. Besides, I have gigs in Dallas, TX that weekend.
If I did win, I'd probably get someone from Oahu to accept the award for me...
"Accepting the award for Gerald Ross is prominent entertainer and Hawaii resident - Mr. Jim Nabors!" (now how cool would that be?)  
_________________
Gerald Ross
'Northwest Ann Arbor, Michigan's King Of The Hawaiian Steel Guitar'
A UkeTone Recording Artist
CEO, CIO, CFO - UkeTone Records
Gerald's Hawaiian Steel Guitar/Ukulele Website |
|
|
|
James Harrison
From:
New Brockton, Alabama, USA
|
Posted 5 Feb 2008 11:10 pm
|
|
Wake up Gerald! If you want to win you have to plant Beans and Collards and sneak in some Chittlins. I know you don't know what I am saying if you don't live in the Southeast United States but it made our DREAM come true.
James |
|
|
|
Derrick Mau
From:
Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
|
Posted 6 Feb 2008 3:29 am
|
|
Here's a video of Jake if you've never seen him play before. I've seen him on a few occasions here; he definitely is the best I've seen so far on the uke.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mEqEe-PIC8
Congratulations Gerald on your 3rd place finish. |
|
|
|
Bill Creller
From:
Saginaw, Michigan, USA (deceased)
|
Posted 6 Feb 2008 8:46 am
|
|
| That was really somethin'. That uke was a big one. What size would that be called?? Baritone? |
|
|
|
Gerald Ross
From:
Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
|
|
|
|
Derrick Mau
From:
Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
|
Posted 6 Feb 2008 10:16 am
|
|
It's a custom made one from Kamaka.
Last year Kamaka made only 25 copies of these and named them as the "Jake" model. As I recall, they were selling it for around $5,000 and were sold by lottery. |
|
|
|
Gerald Ross
From:
Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
|
|
|
|
James Quackenbush
From:
Pomona, New York, USA
|
Posted 8 Feb 2008 8:15 am
|
|
| I've never had any interest in the Uke ....until now !!....Very impressive , and congrats to you even if you didn't win Gerald ....Sincerely, Jim |
|
|
|
Bill Creller
From:
Saginaw, Michigan, USA (deceased)
|
Posted 8 Feb 2008 10:33 pm
|
|
| Coming in third with Jake in the competition is what I would call pretty Dam good! |
|
|
|
