"An Instrument of Unity"

LAMW Sponsors  The Mayor and City  Council of Los Angeles The Department of Cultural Affairs for Los Angeles L.A. County Board of Supervisors The L. A. Branch  of the U.S. Postal Service Los Angeles Unified School District Target Corporation Richards, Watson & Gershon Law Firm Professional Musicians Union Local 47 First Congregational Church of Los Angeles Logo by Jeff Tsuji LAMW's Past Honorees

THE "L.A. MUSIC WEEK" ANTHEM If harmony is what you seek, Then turn to "L.A. Music Week." For young and old the goals are there  To find in music joys to share. The values that we strive to teach To all those children in our reach Are found in music, songs, and sounds, With fun and impact without bounds. Through classes, concerts, and events, With skills and interest as intents, We marshal stars who sing and play, And even stage a "Children's Day." The impact goes beyond the young, With gains that truly are farflung In nurturing the talent pool To aid careers long after school. So join our quest and help those goals;  Yes, add your voice within our rolls, And say what kids say as your plan: Say, "I can do it...Yes, I can!" Lyrics by Stanley M. Gortikov What is Los Angeles Music Week? Los Angeles Music Week  (LAMW) is a seven day celebration  of Los Angeles' multifaceted musical heritage, serving the entire city and county of Los Angeles, now in its ninth year.  Throughout the week of December 8 to 15, 2002, LAMW annually showcases L.A.'s musical past and the many artists whose legendary contributions have impacted this city,  while building links to all citizens.  This is accomplished through  performances, interviews,  student projects, performer showcases and special events, representing music of all genres,   held at multiple locations.  LAMW's goals are to encourage legendary artists to teach and mentor students, raise public awareness of the diverse musical genres performed in this great city, honor cultural diversity and encourage those who artistically educate our youth.   Every year,  LAMW coincides with the issue of the U.S. Postal Service's Commemorative Music Heritage Stamps, whereby framed enlargements are presented to honorees.   Rare cancellations with postmarks, true collector's items since 1996,  may only be purchased through Los Angeles Music Week.

                                          "With a performing career spanning 84+ years, Bill "Tappy" Tapia just might have the longest history of any Hawaiian Jazz musician working today.
                                          Born in Honolulu,  New Year's Day 1908, he first learned `ukulele at age 7.   By 10, he was playing USO shows for World War I troops stationed
                                          on O`ahu.  At 12, he became an entertainer in vaudeville and later on cruise ships, where he became known for playing the `ukulele behind his head!
                                          In 1927, when he was 19, he played banjo with Johnny Noble's band at the grand opening of the Royal Hawaiian Hotel.

                                         Eventually settling in San Francisco in the early 1940s, Bill continued to entertain and teach out of his home.   Along with his wife, Barbie, they raised
                                         their only child, Cleo.  For the last many years the couple kept a low profile and four years ago, moved to Southern California to be closer to their three
                                         grandchildren and six great grandchildren.
 
 

                                         In September 2001, Bill was introduced to The Resophonics, a group of young musicians playing Hawaiian Jazz in the old style he helped to pioneer.
                                         Impressed with their passion to continue the Hawaiian Jazz tradition, Bill decided to take the young enthusiastic trio under his wing and give them the
                                         opportunity to gain the knowledge of how it used to be played.

                                         Unlike Jazz, Hawaiian music in the early 1900s was almost forgotten and not well documented as a major influence in the evolution of American music.

                                         However in this rare collaboration of his recent release, "Introducing Bill Tapia with The Resophonics:  Limited Edition 2002,"  Bill Tapia,
                                         along with several friends and The Resophonics, will share a few of the Hawaiian and Jazz selections from the 20th century with two of the most
                                         musical traditions in the world."  He is also the oldest Hawaiian musician with a recording contract!  In numerous concerts, Bill Tapia and The Resophonics
                                         received  standing ovations from countless  appreciative audiences who all recognized what was an honor it was to have directly experienced the musicianry
                                         and artistry of  this living treasure and legend.

                                                                                                              The Ukulele in Hawaiian Tradition

                                             The ukulele is said to have been first brought to the Hawaiian islands in 1879 by a Portuguese immigrant (the instrument's Portuguese name is
                                             braguinha).    Though there is little consensus about the derivation of the Hawaiian word (ukulele in Hawaiian means "jumping flea"), it is clear
                                             that this little four-stringed instrument has become central to musical tradition in Hawaii.   Above, Margo King Lenson discusses the role
                                             of the ukulele in Hawaiian music.   The program includes live ukulele music and hula dance.  Video footage of Master Musician Bill Tapia
                                             is also dynamically featured, in which he is playing the ukulele in his own well-known inimitable style.   This was a special program in honor of Asian
                                             Pacific Heritage Month, held May 18, 2002.

LAMW Partners ArtsCorpLA L.A. Opera Gene Autry Museum Bernice H. Turner Brand Library and Art  Center of Glendale Hollywood Bowl Museum The Hollywood  Entertainment Museum University of  Southern California View 1998 Proclamation

Artistic Mission Fulfilling the motto, "An Instrument of Unity, " Los Angeles Music Week serves all the residents of the Greater Los Angeles area, including its surrounding basins.  The performances, projects and events impact people of diverse cultures, ages, ethnicities, religions and socio- economic groups.  The scope of events offers Angelenos opportunities to hear musical genres that they have never experienced and invites them to explore venues in various parts of the city.   The educational activities of LAMW are enabled in elementary, middle  and high schools.   LAMW takes an active role in Los Angeles' cultural tourism industry by offering a wide variety of performances that showcase the city's musical heritage.  Due to the drastic cutbacks in music curricula in schools over the past decade, the majority of the city's children know little or nothing about the rich musical heritage of the city they live in and have no scope of the musical genres available to them, from classical to jazz to ethnic musics.  Many children have very few musical skills or lack the resources for acquiring them.  LAMW's program elements, such as field trips, in-school presentations and opportunities to interface with living musical legends, broaden musical understanding and have created musical bridges between the communities over the  past six years.  The  sponsors and partnerships listed on this page dutifully enable LAMW  to accomplish the educational goals and facilitate field trips for the school children in order to link music with other aspects of culture and learning.  The children derive so much pride and motivation from learning how many famous musicians from all aspects of the music business grew up in their own communities.    Face-to-face dialogue with successful living legends gives them the impetus to explore their own God-given talents and capabilities, inspiring them to learn.   The Children's Day field trips open up a world of amazing wonder and possibility.   In the words of Founder/Executive Director Margie Evans describing the 1999 Children's Day event, "Serious joy was had by these wonderful children."  One parent, accompanying her child to the California Science Museum trip, commented, "This is what it's all about, giving children a chance to succeed."  During the 2001 LAMW celebration at the Warner Grand Theatre, selected schools were elated to receive a cash donation of $500 for their music departments, while parents, honorees and children raved about everything from the musical performances, to the unique LAMW  t-shirts provided by Target,  to the superbly tasty sub sandwiches from the Busy Bee in San Pedro.

	L.A. Music Week Margie Evans, Executive Director melamw@earthlink.net P.O. Box 451146 L.A., CA 90045-8511 Ph: 310-670-6898 Fax: 310-670-6908