Bill Tapia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bill "Tappy" Tapia
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | William Tapia |
| Born | January 1, 1908 Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S. |
| Died | December 2, 2011 |
| Genres | Jazz, Hawaiian |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, musician |
| Years active | 1918 - |
| Associated acts | Bing Crosby, Louis Armstrong, Elvis Presley |
Uncle Bill “Tappy” Tapia was an amazing American musician. He was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, on January 1, 1908. His parents were from Portugal. Bill Tapia lived a very long life, passing away on December 2, 2011. He was known for playing the ukulele and guitar.
Bill Tapia started his music career very early. At just 10 years old, he was already a professional musician! He played for soldiers during World War I in Hawaii. Over his long career, he worked with many famous artists. These included Bing Crosby, Louis Armstrong, and Elvis Presley. Many people believe he was the first musician to play jazz music on the ukulele.
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The Incredible Life of Bill Tapia
A Young Star in Hawaii
Bill Tapia was born in Honolulu, Hawaii. His family came from Portugal. From a very young age, Bill loved music. He started playing instruments when he was just a boy. By age 10, he was already performing for money. He played for soldiers in Hawaii during World War I. This was a very important time in history. He played a famous song called "Stars and Stripes Forever."
From Vaudeville to Jazz
Bill Tapia's career began in a type of entertainment called Vaudeville. Vaudeville shows were popular in the early 1900s. They featured many different acts, like singers, dancers, and comedians. Bill quickly became a skilled jazz guitarist and ukulele player. He was one of the first to bring jazz sounds to the ukulele.
Playing with Legends
Throughout his long career, Bill Tapia worked with many famous musicians. He played alongside big names like Bing Crosby, Louis Armstrong, and Elvis Presley. He also worked with important Hawaiian musicians. These included King Bennie Nawahi, Sol Ho‘opi’i, and Andy Iona. Bill's ability to play different styles of music made him very special.
A Century of Music
Bill Tapia lived to be 103 years old! He continued to play music for almost all of his life. His career lasted for more than 90 years. This is one of the longest music careers ever. He showed that music can keep you young and active. Bill Tapia's passion for music inspired many people. He is remembered as a true pioneer in jazz and Hawaiian music.
