Strumming The Night Away
KFMB – San Diego,CA,USA
On Wednesday evenings at Today’s Pizza in Encinitas, anything that you
order is going to come with a large serving of pineapple. …

On Wednesday evenings at Today’s Pizza in Encinitas, anything that you order is going to come with a large serving of pineapple. That’s because the Moonlight Beach Ukelele Strummers are in the house.

“We’re over 250 members now,” group leader Frank Leone said. “I’ve been playing about 40 years. I started by playing at the beach at Waikiki in the 50s.”

Frank also teaches beginning and intermediate ukulele courses at Mira Costa College.

“I have a database of about almost 1,000 songs, and what I do is put it on the website for the members to use for free,” he said.

And even though the pizza parlor is packed, there’s always room for another strummer.

“It’s very easy. A lot of members here are just willing to show you chords, so you can strum along and feel comfortable,” Frank said.

Candy Shipley first picked up a uke last October.

“Oh you definitely have to do it,” she said. “You have to give it a shot, because you’ll be hooked. That’s all it takes, is five minutes with the group.”

Even a malihini can make music.

Playing the traditional songs of Hawaii, the Moonlight Beach Ukelele Strummers have found their own enchanted island in the tropical paradise of Encinitas.