1. James Patrick Baron, known as Tiki King, was born on November 14,1963 and is an artist, musician, and luthier.
18 Facts About Tiki King
1. 2.
Tiki King was an artist in the tiki revival scene of the early 1990s.
3.
Tiki King released three solo ukulele CDs as well as one with his lounge band Tiki King and the Idol Pleasures.
4.
Tiki King currently plays bass drum and ukulele in Tribal Celtic band the Wicked Tinkers who have released a total of nine albums.
5.
Tiki King's father Jim Baron was a stained glass craftsman who loved working with wood and encouraged James to make his own toys.
6.
In 1966 Tiki King's uncle gave his family a 3-foot stone tiki placing it near his childhood playhouse.
7.
In 1994 Tiki King began hosting yearly luaus, a tradition that lasted ten years.
8.
Tiki King sculpted and glazed his own tiki mugs for his luaus each year and are now extremely rare.
9.
Tiki King became a respected tiki artist creating necklaces, paintings, carvings and sculptures.
10.
Tiki King didn't start playing ukulele until the mid 90's when he bought one for $12.
11.
Tiki King became obsessed and learned as much about the instrument as he could.
12.
Tiki King began to create an online database of ukulele makers that would eventually include over 700 entries.
13.
Tiki King hand carved many ukuleles with tikis on the bodies and headstocks, and developed a pineapple cutaway style on a double octave ukulele he designed.
14.
Tiki King has since designed artwork for 15 ukuleles made by the Magic Fluke company.
15.
Tiki King designed Bette Midler's "Pink Pineapple" ukulele in 2008 for her The Showgirl Must Go On series in Las Vegas and has created original painted art ukuleles for musicians such as Greg Hawkes, Todd Rundgren, and comedian Victoria Jackson.
16.
Tiki King joined the Wicked Tinkers in 2013 taking the place of founding member Warren Casey on bass drum.
17.
Tiki King plays ukulele and sings in the band as well.
18.
In 2018 the Wicked Tinkers were runners up in the local band category of Good Times Santa Cruz, while Pat Baron aka Tiki King was voted best musician.