63 – Salute to New Orleans

In this post: "Way Down Yonder In New Orleans"

Note: If you are new to the ukulele, I suggest you read the posts in the order in which they are numbered.

While the joy in New Orleans still reverberates as the city celebrates its first Super Bowl victory, let's have a rousing song celebrating New Orleans's past: "Way Down Yonder In New Orleans," first published in 1922, when it made its debut in the Broadway musical "Spice of 1922." Music was by Joe Turner Layton, Jr. and lyrics by Henry Creamer.

Rhapsody lists 139 recordings, including ones by Earl Hines, Duke Ellington, Leadbelly, Harry Connick, Jr., Bix Beiderbecke, Louis Armstrong, Coleman Hawkins, Lester Young, Glenn Miller, Bennie Goodman and Paul Whiteman. You'll find some of those plus others at YouTube.

The rendition below is in cut time in the key of G. Don't be cowed by the Bm7, Bm, F#, Bm sequences. They're really quite easy once you give them a try. Just use a bar fingering on all of these chords.





Later,
-- Al