Gerald Ross


Gerald Ross is a musician specializing in American Roots Music – Swing, Early Jazz, Western Swing, Hawaiian, Ragtime and Blues. Playing the guitar, lap steel guitar and ukulele he has performed throughout the USA and Europe and has recorded seven solo CDs. Ross currently tours as a solo act performing and teaching ukulele and steel guitar at festivals and music camps.

Awards and recognitions

1993 – Won the WEMU Jazz Competition
1998-2004 - Elected to board of directors of the Hawaiian Steel Guitar Association.
2010 – Won the 2010 Hawaii Music Awards Steel Guitar category.
2010 – The aNueNue Ukulele company issued the Gerald Ross Signature Tenor Ukulele.
2011 – Became an artist/endorser for Mya-Moe Ukuleles.
2011 – Became an online columnist for Mel Bay's "Ukulele Sessions".
2011 – Became an endorser for MI-SI instrument pickups.
2012 – Became an endorser for the Kala U-Bass.
2013 – Named Mya-Moe Ukulele Artist of the Month
2013 – Became the music director for the annual Ashokan Uke Fest.
2014 – Gerald's steel guitar work was featured on the Hula Honey's CD 'A Hui Ho'.
The CD won the Na Hoku Hanonano Award
2015 – Named UkeFarm Radio Artist of the Month
2018 - Became an endorser for Henriksen amplifiers. Featured in Henriksen print advertisement - Ukulele Magazine, Winter 2017, Spring & Summer 2018, Winter 2019.
2020 - Ukulele Magazine Fall 2020. Full page feature story about Gerald’s two month musical lockdown during the Covid-19 pandemic in Spain
2021 - Gerald and Marcy Marxer hosted the awards presentation at the World Virtual Ukulele Contest sponsored by CF Martin guitars
2021 - Ukulele Magazine Winter 2021. A four page feature article profiling Gerald entitled ‘King Of Swing’
2022 - Ukulele Magazine Online. Gerald performs his arrangement of 'Christmas Time Is Here' online in the magazine's Holiday edition.
2024 - Gerald’s Swing, Blues and Jazz ukulele instructional site debuts on Patreon.
2025 - Ukulele Magazine 50th issue. Quoted in the feature article ‘Words Of Wisdom’

Lost World String Band

Gerald Ross played guitar, ukulele, Cajun accordion and steel guitar with the LWSB from 1979 - 2011. The Lost World appeared numerous times on American Public Media's A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor. The band's reputation for on-stage spontaneity and humor secured them a spot as the featured musical act at New York's famed comedy club The Improv for the 1982 New Year's show.

2020 Covid-19 Lockdown - Oviedo, Spain

In March 2020 a brief work/vacation in Oviedo, Spain became a fifty four day lockdown for Ross and his wife Margaret. Neither contracted Covid-19. Ross recorded four instrumental ukulele videos during the lockdown.

Discography

Solo

Romance & Adventure Ukulele Stomp Moonlight And Shadows Ukulele Hit Parade Mistletoe Mazel TovSwing Ukulele
  • ''Absolute Uke''

Collaborations

Stoney Creek – Meet The Creek Lost World String Band – Ready To Wear After 10 Years – Elderly Instruments Sally Rogers – In The Circle of the Sun Wheatland Festival – At This Stage – 30 Years at the Wheatland FestivalVarious Ukulele Artists – Square Pegs And Round Holes Yiddishe Cup – Klezmer Guy Greg Gattuso – Little Songs For Big Kids Bosko & Honey Present... Ukulele Safari Volume 1 The Beatles Complete on Ukulele – The Beatles Complete on Ukulele – Katseye – Makin' LemonadeThe Hula Honeys – A Hui HouTree Town Ukes – Veterans Song Phil Doleman - And
  • Shawano Folk Festival - 40 years

Music Festival Appearances

Ross makes appearances at a wide variety of venues as documented below. At most events there are workshops where he teaches participants aspects of the ukulele or steel guitar.

Appears in

Kazoozie Kazoos TV commercial Mighty Uke