DICK WILSON

Dick Wilson is the organizer of the Orlando/Winter Park Ukulele Society, a group of over 400 enthusiasts from all over Central Florida. The group meets regularly in Winter Park and has been a popular feature of the annual Winter Park Christmas parade for many years.

Dick has also taught “Introduction to the Ukulele” seminars at the Winter Park and Seminole County Libraries and has worked on the Tampa Bay Ukulele Getaway (TBUS) one of the largest ukulele events in the country.

Although he began playing the ukulele at 13, it was not until many years later his interest in the instrument was rekindled. That was in 2000, when he discovered a valuable 1950s Martin tenor ukulele at a Maitland garage sale. He snapped it up and has been playing enthusiastically ever since.

Since then Dick has also somehow acquired a dozen other ukuleles, a condition informally known among ukulele players as Chronic Ukulele Acquisition Syndrome. He now owns at least one of every size and shape made.