Bob Carlson started playing guitar in middle school but he didn’t get his first ukulele until college. Searching for some usable furniture in the dumpster behind his dorm he found a broken baritone ukulele. He whittled a new bridge out of a piece of woodwork, put on some strings, and the rest is history. Over the years he’s loved playing for friends and family, on road trips and camp outs, and it’s always been close at hand in the living room for an impromptu serenade.

About 10 years ago Bob joined a ukulele ‘’meetup’’ group. Their band, named Opening Act — that’s where it always was on the bill — playing at the Texas Folklife Festival, the Aloha Festival, luaus and parties, and Christmas tours of nursing homes.

Last year Bob retired from a 40-year career as a free-lance science writer and turned his ukulele hobby into a second, mini-career. Now he teaches ukulele to private students and group classes, and performs his favorite oldies and folk tunes at venues around San Antonio.