Dane County Songwriters
Below is a list, in no special order, of ukulele songwriters in Dane County, WI, USA.
Don Worel
Singer, Strummer, Folk Ballads
As a child, writing even a simple thank you note was a chore I dreaded. Rhyming, on the other hand, was easy and enjoyable. As a teenager, I found that an idea, some rhymes, and a few basic chords could become a song. As an adult, I’ve come to realize that song-writing has played an important role in my life. Songs have allowed me to express emotions and feelings, I couldn’t adequately put into words alone.
Elizabeth Ragsdale
Instrumental Arranger & Composer, Solos, Duets, Trios, Folk, Blues, Spiritual, Classical
While writing inspirational vocal and piano music, I read a tip about using an unfamiliar instrument to explore melodies. So I bought a ukulele to pick out my tunes. Captured by its sweet sound, I decided to learn to play it. Later, while unable to sing with others during the pandemic, I began writing instrumental ukulele music. Soon I embarked on a mission to encourage others to try out this most satisfying way of playing.
Kent Wells
Singer, Strummer, Fingerpicker, Folk, Country
After playing ukulele a couple of years, my own melodies and phrases started popping into my head. My first song came from a Tom Bodett story about a loan officer and shiftless applicant. I changed "You don't even loan him a bad idea" into "I've been drinking and coming up with bad ideas" to create a pseudo country song. I love the word play in songs; hopefully it entertains others as well. Sometimes there’s even a message in there.