THE KEYPORT RAG an Original Ukulele Rag by UKULELE MIKE

PLEASE NOTE:  My “UKULELE BASICS” DVD is currently  available for purchase. . . For more information email me at mike@ukulelemikelynch.com

Spent a relaxing few days last week in a cottage overlooking Liberty Bay in the small town of Keyport, Washington USA. . . Population about 415 with a small established Naval base attached.  While enjoying the tranquil nature of the town. . . Sitting on the deck watching boaters sail or kayak by, I was inspired to compose this fun little rag.  Typically, most songs come to me on the spur of the moment while improvising or just lazily playing about on my uke or piano or guitar.  Very soon the character of this piece really struck me and I knew instantly that it would become a full fledged tune.  So off I went to begin developing the song.  Ideas came left and right. . . too many at times, which is common for me and most composers, I think.  By the evening I felt I had the song pretty much intact. . . WRONG!!! next morning I woke up and picked up my uke. . . strolled out onto the deck and began to play it again and VOILA!!! another entirely new B section came into existence. . . Where in the world did it come from?  I asked myself. . . Why had I not thought of that yesterday?  Well this is the world of songwriting . . . It happens so very often that certain ideas just dont become evident until a short or even long period of time elapses.  I’ve often wondered if many of the classic standards we know and cherish today such as Over The Rainbow or I’ll Be Seeing You . . . Or Tonight You Belong To me would have been entirely different if the songwriters were given the liberty to re write say, a year or two later. . . Actually one example I can cite is MARIE by Irving Berlin. . . intially composed in the early 20th century. . . it was written as a waltz. . . Later in his life he decided to re write it as a 4/4 time fox trot .  . Interesting . . . Anyways, hope you might take some time to give my KEYPORT RAG a listen. . . If you are a ukulele player there is also a notated tablature available for purchase. . . The You Tube link for this tune is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-x3fbC8isyM