Gerald Ross (born September 26, 1954, Detroit) 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.[1][2]
Awards and recognitions
1993 – Won the WEMU Jazz Competition (solo artist category)
2010 – Won the 2010 Hawaii Music Awards Steel Guitar category.[3]
2010 – The aNueNue Ukulele company issued the Gerald Ross Signature Tenor Ukulele.[4]
2011 – Became an artist/endorser for Mya-Moe Ukuleles.[5]
2011 – Became an online columnist for Mel Bay's "Ukulele Sessions".[6]
2011 – Became an endorser for MI-SI instrument pickups.[7]
2013 – Named Mya-Moe Ukulele Artist of the Month (June)[9]
2013 – Became the Music Director for the annual Ashokan Uke Fest (2013-2019).[10]
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 (Hawaiian Grammys – Jazz category)[11]
2015 – Named UkeFarm Radio Artist of the Month (January)[12]
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[13][circular reference] 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. patreon.com/gbross
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.[14] 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.
Besame MuchoSundayMagnetic RagMusic To Watch Girls By
Discography
Solo
Romance & Adventure
Ukulele Stomp
Moonlight And Shadows
Ukulele Hit Parade
Mistletoe Mazel Tov
Swing Ukulele
Absolute Uke
Collaborations
Stoney Creek – Meet The Creek
Lost World String Band – Ready To Wear
After 10 Years – Elderly Instruments (w/MacPherson Strutters)
Sally Rogers – In The Circle of the Sun
Wheatland Festival – At This Stage – 30 Years at the Wheatland Festival
Various Ukulele Artists – Square Pegs And Round Holes
Yiddishe Cup – Klezmer Guy
Greg Gattuso (Hilo Greg) – Little Songs For Big Kids
Phil Doleman - And (guitar, bass, Dobro - UK release)
Shawano Folk Festival - 40 years
Music Festival Appearances
Ross conducting a workshop
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.[15]
Europe etc.
Ukulele Festival of Great Britain – Cheltenham, England
Sevilla Ukulele Festival – Sevilla, Spain
Ukulele Ceilidh – Liverpool, Nova Scotia, Canada
Montreal Uke Fest – Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Ukulele Festival Of Scotland - Dumfries, Scotland
Vancouver Ukulele Festival – Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Hawaii Island Ukulele Retreat - Big Island, Hawaii
Czech Ukulele Festival - Prague, Czech Republic
Royal City Uke Fest - Guelph, Ontario, Canada
Ukulele Bike And Barge - Avignon, France
USA East
Augusta Heritage Swing Week – Elkins, WV
Ashokan Western & Swing Week – Olivebridge, NY
Swannanoa Gathering – Guitar Week – Asheville, NC
Strathmore Uke/Guitar Summit – Bethesda, MD
New York Uke Fest – NY, NY
M.A.U.I. Ukefest – Annapolis, MD
New Jersey Uke Fest - Morristown, NJ
Steve Kaufman’s Acoustic Camp - Maryville, TN
The Kalamazoo Fretboard Festival – Kalamazoo, MI
Wheatland Festival – Remus, MI
Midwest Uke Fest – Indianapolis, IN
Milwaukee Uke Fest – Milwaukee, WI
Bliss Fest – Cross Village, MI
Windy City Uke Fest – Chicago, IL
Tampa Bay Ukulele Getaway – Tampa, FL
UkeFest at the Music Center at Strathmore – Bethesda, MD
