In mid-2018, a friend mentioned a small ukulele group that had just started meeting every Saturday morning at the Harbor Cove Café in the Ventura Harbor. I owned a ukulele but wasn’t very proficient, so I decided to stop by, listen, and enjoy the morning.
At the time, the group was led by Miles Lang and his wife Jill, was small, usually eight to twelve players. I began attending regularly, and after a few months, as their schedules became busier, I stepped in to help keep the group going. With many years of experience as a performing musician, I started creating songbooks filled with classic rock and pop favorites, songs people love to sing and play together.
The group grew quickly. Today, seven years later, we often welcome 50 to 60 ukulele players on a beautiful Saturday morning. What began as a casual gathering has become a true community, a musical family, and the highlight of the week for many of our members.
I eventually named the group Cool Hand Ukes, and Helene Freeman created our beautiful logo. We’ve been featured in local magazines and continue to gather every Saturday, sharing music, laughter, and the stunning backdrop of Ventura Harbor.
