Members Bio's

CHRIS CARLSON - LEAD UKULELE / 12 STRING ACOUSTIC GUITAR / VOCALS

An avid guitar player for over 30 years, Chris picked up the ukulele 5 years ago and has made it his main instrument ever since. His love of the instrument has lead to forming a ukulele club here in Chicago "Windy City Ukulele Club" From this club he met George Klingelhofer who exposed Chris to Hawaiian/ Island music. And as they say... "The Rest is History!"

Equipment used:

Tenor Flukes with an Under-saddle pickup & volume control knobs. Chris says "Flukes are the only Ukes that can handle my type of playing. I push the limits of the instrument by my soloing. I have been known to bust bridges off Kamaka's & GString ukes!" Flukes can handle my soloing & my extreme bending of uke strings."

DAVID MALATESTA - UPRIGHT BASS

The grandson of an accordion maker, David Malatesta has been around music his whole life. He was drawn to the bass because of its low frequencies and as he recalls, he liked how it made the people shake. Currently a high school teacher, he has played in big bands, jazz fusion groups, Latin ensembles and has recently rediscovered his country roots he inherited from his mom. David has played with a variety of Country/Jazz groups in the Chicagoland area. He plays bass (fretless, 4 string, 5 string, upright) and can also can read charts. He has been playing for over 20 years. He listens to all types of music. Independent travel to and through and has heard, studied and enjoyed the music of The United States, Canada, México, Guatemala, Honduras, Costa Rica, Cuba (shhh), Puerto Rico, Jamaica, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, Denmark, Switzerland, Portugal, Yugoslavia, Greece, England, The Netherlands, Morocco, India, Russia, Egypt, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Korea, Indonesia, Thailand, Japan, Turkey, Cyprus, Paraguay, Argentina & now playing with the Windy City Islanders, Hawaii!!!