To celebrate the 250th Birthday of the USA I have released a new book of ukulele arrangements celebrating “Love America.” Published on 4th of July 2026: the paperback and Kindle editions available on Amazon worldwide — with a special launch price $14.92 for the 12 songs for both high G and low G ukulele with a bonus new medley and list of the 28 occasions you can play these tunes.
What’s inside?
Click to see what I see when I publish the manuscript. Get your copy on any Amazon website.
Background Information
When I was getting my seventh title published, I felt pressed to compile another book, with a read deadline of 4th of July. That would give me less than two weeks. Could I do it? Eve Miles, who has illustrated all my blog posts, banners, books, and more, came up with front and back covers for the new book. I didn’t even have a title yet.
Then the tunes started coming into my head, refusing to leave. I knew all these tunes. I grew up on an air force base. For eleven years, the sound of marching bands was part of my daily existence. I went to school with classmates whose parents served in all branches of the military. Many of them followed in their footsteps later, as did their parents, grandparents, ….
I once remarked to a friend in Colorado Springs that joining the forces was giving a blank cheque to the government. He said, “you’re right.”
Choosing the 12 songs was hard. Given the deadline, I was limited to music that were in the public domain. Anything under copyright required writing to the publishers for permission. I didn’t have that luxury of time to ask.
Special Offer before the Publication
To gauge interest, I made a special offer on this blog post. Several responded. And I was very happy.
As a special token of my appreciation for your ongoing support, I have a new offer: if you currently own any four of my paperback titles in the Pick Pluck Play! Series, you are eligible to receive the two-page PDF of sheet music listed below BEFORE the book gets published. Just send me a photo of yourself (or your ukuleles) and the four books (The Marine’s Hymn and Anchors Aweigh). If you own any four paperback titles in the Pick Pluck Play! Series, e-mail me with a photo of you holding those titles so I can give you access to the following two pieces.
Songs in the new book
To comply with copyright rulings, I can only publish my arrangements of songs that are in the public domain. Anything else requires getting permission from the copyright holders. As a result, I cannot publish the official anthems of the US Air Force, Army, or Space. Nor can I publish Irving Berlin’s “God Bless America,” even though I had arranged it already.
Below are songs in the public domain that I can make arrangements for ukulele and include in the book. I will decide which ones make the list. I will BOLD the titles I’ve arranged. I will strike out the ones I will not include in this volume.
- America the Beautiful – America the Beautiful – high G & low G
- Anchors Aweigh – U.S. Navy official anthem
Battle Hymn of the Republic- Home on the Range
- Home, Sweet Home
- My Country, ‘Tis of Thee My Country, ‘Tis of Thee
Semper Paratus (Always Ready) – U.S. Coast Guard official anthemStars and Stripes Forever- Star-Spangled Banner Star Spangled Banner
- Taps
- The Marine’s Hymn – U.S. Marines official anthem
Washington Post MarchWhen Johnny Comes Marching Home- When the Saints Go Marching In
- Yankee Doodle (old) – Yankee Doodle (new)
- Yankee Doodle Boy, The
- You’re a Grand Old Flag
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