What styles of music have a ukulele created in history and is played now?

The ukulele is historically a cross between Portuguese and Madeira stringed instruments. These two instruments were used widely from 1600 to late 1800’s in Brazil and Portugal. Three men then traveled from Portugal to Hawaii in the late 1800’s and suddenly came up with the idea. Ever since then, the ukulele has been used as the cultural musical piece throughout most of the Hawaiian Islands, and throughout different parts of the Pacific region. The ukulele, since it was conceived as a cross between two instruments, continues to be adapted by individual musicians to suit them a little better. But the instrument tends to keep its mystique through the small size and sound that is so unique to the ukulele.

In the early 1900’s the ukulele made its way to the mainland of the United States and the unique sound coupled with the cultural flair of the Hawaiian Islands made it a promising instrument to be used to play new music for dinner parties and art showings. The ukulele was expanded to play folk, classical, and many other different kinds of Island music from the Asia-Pacific region. George Harrison of the Beatles brought the ukulele into the public eye by trying to incorporate it into as many songs as possible, as well as always have two with him when he traveled across the world so that he could play with a friend. Jack Johnson, a modern day alternative-rock star, has also caught the ukulele bug and you can see it played at his concerts as well.