Today in Corona del Mar, over 250 people remembered Bill at a memorial event held at the OASIS Senior Center. Bill regularly sat in with the OASIS Ukulele Strummers Club and many came to pay their respects today. For the full Corona del Mar Today article, click here.

Bill's friend, Ali Lexa of UkeSpot.com introduces the project so nicely. Read on and please join in if you can!

"As you may have heard, our great friend and Ukulele ambassador Bill Tapia passed December 2011, about a month short of his 104th birthday. I think everyone that ever met Bill, heard him perform and speak or even heard stories about him was touched by his warm heart, generous nature, quick wit and that twinkle in his eyes. A project to create a celebratory, memorial online slide show about Bill has been launched. Purely free and open for all to enjoy and contribute to. If you have images of Bill you’d like to have considered to be included follow the directions below. This has been envisioned as an ongoing project that will continue to grow as images come in."

Your Bill Tapia™ photo memories wanted!

Do you have a memorable photo of Bill Tapia™ that you would like to share? We invite you to submit your photo(s) to us for an online tribute to the Duke of Uke! Email your best photos to: billtapiamemories@gmail.com

Be sure to include as much information as possible, such as:

• Your full name
• Location / event the photo was taken
• Date image was taken
• Photographer’s name
• Names of subjects in the photo
• A caption or short description about the moment.
  

Please read the submission guidelines below or at this Facebook link HERE.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:

• Photos may be submitted via email to: billtapiamemories@gmail.com
• Digital format only please. Any size is accepted for consideration. The higher the resolution the better (300 dpi or higher)
• No text, symbols or logos on the image itself! All important information should be included in the body of your submission email.
• If you have multiple high resolution images please send them through WeTransfer: https://wetransfer.com/ (WeTransfer is a free and easy to use data transfer service).
  

Once you email your photo(s) to billtapiamemories@gmail.com you grant complete release and permission to Paniolo Productions to use your photo(s), information and story in electronic or printed media production. There is no guarantee that all submissions and information will be used. Material can be removed. You agree that the photo and text may be cropped, edited, electronically manipulated or otherwise altered.

You certify that you are the photographer and sole copyright owner  of this photo and text, or you have the owner’s permission to submit this, and have obtained the consent of all identifiable persons shown in it for these uses.

This ongoing project is being put together by friends and fans of Bill Tapia™. Use of your photos for electronic or printed media production is strictly “not-for-profit” by any parties involved with this project. You will not receive any compensation for the use of your photo(s).

If there is any interest in your photos from an outside party, we will be sure to contact you.

Submissions accepted: January 1, 2012 through January 1, 2013.

If you have any questions, please contact us at:
billtapiamemories@gmail.com

We are looking forward to seeing what you have to share!

"Heart-warming"  -Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times

"4 Stars. A very moving and personal story about a remarkable man."  -John Berger, Honolulu Star-Bulletin

"A gem!"  -LA Weekly

Produced by Walking Iris Films. Visit the site.
View it online

Listen to CBC/Radio-Canada's tribute to Bill on today's "As it Happens" show.

Along with an interview with Mark Taylor, Bill's tour manager and friend, you’ll hear a special recording of Bill performing "Stars and Stripes Forever" in the unique style only Bill could pull off!
(The clip starts at 12:00 min in the PART 2 segment.)