'Twas a beautiful July 31st evening, 2021 at the Key West Theater, benefiting Nicky's Celebration — a local non-profit helping local Key West children fight cancer.

Watch "Rock & Roll" on electric ukulele — full set here

You Can Rock on a Uke

Me and my very recently assembled Wayne "Led" Sorbelli's Tribute to Led Zeppelin Show band — 12 of the loveliest, hardest working musicians I know — worked up 12 of Zep's greatest hits for the event.

I am very proud of everyone I worked with and the results.

Why Open with a Ukulele?

I came out of the gate shooting from the hip with my little electric ukulele. It's the smallest thing I play, but it makes me feel way bigger than I am. It empowers me on stage.

Funny? I guess. But it's the truth.

I felt like a giant on stage playing a pretty easy guitar song — that's a joke — on a little ukulele with a guitar pickup installed in it. It was a way to empower me and set the theme for the night's comings.

We were going to kick cancer in the balls on this night like giants. Like the Hammer of the Gods. But in our own Key West kind of quirky, weird little island way.

The Message Behind the Music

We assembled and kicked cancer's ass on that night. We raised peace signs, fists, hope, and many screaming testimonies.

No better way to start something like this.

Band for "Rock and Roll":

• Gary Ek "The Soundman From Hell" — MC
• Wayne "Led" Sorbelli — electric ukulele
• Wavy Dave Parkhurst — vocals
• David Bryce Warren — drums
• Tim Marshall Curtis — bass

The Ukulele as a Statement

People always underestimate the ukulele. It's small. It's associated with Hawaiian music and novelty songs. But plug one in, run it through a good amp, and play it with conviction — and it becomes something else entirely.

That's what I love about it. The ukulele is a surprise. And on a night when we were all fighting something bigger than ourselves, coming out with the smallest instrument on stage and making it sound enormous felt exactly right.

It goes to show you can ROCK on a uke just like a guitar.

Please Share

If you enjoyed the video, please share it and comment. Like the channel if you can. Like the video if you liked it. I appreciate that if you do.

It really helps spread the word about Nicky's Celebration and what we're doing for kids fighting cancer in Key West.

Many thanks. Enjoy.

— Wayne