WHEN YOU WISH UPON A STAR – The Cliff Edwards Story

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

Cliff Edwards (June 14, 1895 – July 17, 1971), also known as “Ukelele Ike“, was an American singer and voice actor who enjoyed considerable popularity in the 1920s and early 1930s, specializing in jazzy renditions of pop standards and novelty tunes. He had a number-one hit with “Singin’ in the Rain” in 1929. He also did voices for animated cartoons later in his career, and is best known as the voice of Jiminy Cricket in Walt Disney‘s Pinocchio (1940).

This excerpt from Wikipedia just doesn’t do   Cliff “Ukulele Ike” Edwards justice.  Of course, not many knew who the voice behind Jiminy Cricket was nor that Ukulele Ike was actually Cliff Edwards, but his career in show businnes spanned well over more then have a decade.  This article mentions that he debuted Singin’ In The Rain in 1929, but what it doesnt mention is that he soon became the mentor of such other great “crooners” as Bing Crosby and Dean Martin.  Soon after the microphone was developed in the mid 20’s the crooners could actually get up close to a mic and do “their thing”   Getting that soft, buttery, mellow sound was only achievable thru modern amplification and Ukulele Ike or Cliff Edwards had JUST the right voice for that.  Go to You Tube and listen to HIS rendition of When You Wish Upon A Star.  It will definitely transport so many of us back to a bye gone era when things seemed so much more innocent and simple. His styling of this song is pure classic and one never forgets the sweetness of that voice.  Hope you enjoy learning this on your ukulele. . . Have fun and DO keep making those wishes and having those dreams. . . “HAPPY STRUMMING” – UKULELE MIKE

P.S. Notice the resemblance between UKULELE IKE & JIMINY CRICKET ?? Trust me it’s NOT coincidental.

WHEN YOU WISH UPON A STAR SONGSHEET

Oh and if you’re interested in seeing a great documenary on Cliff Edwards check out this You Tube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6omeanjaweA