“I play your CD in the car and it gets me through our beach traffic!”

“I’ve been loving listening to it in my car as I jaunt down the street, singing along with it. It is just a superb CD!  The production is splendid with everything clear, precise and balanced.  Especially, the slower songs reveal the nuances of your voice (e.g., Maui Nights, Beautiful Dreamer, Sweetheart, True Love).  Your uke playing is just wonderful!  Really neat arrangements, and skillful precise playing.  Every note, high and low, is in tune and perfectly rendered.  You do some amazing ukelizations.  Your singing is also wonderful. You are really versatile and with great presentation and arrangements.  Nice back up singing too.  What a pro you are.  Cali, dear, this is just a marvelously enthralling and professional recording showing off your best stuff, and I’m enjoying it immensely.”

“I absolutely love it!  The song selection, vocals and musicianship are nothing less than stellar.”

“…it’s the players like you and Craig that make the world of ukulele what it is.  Put a guitar in someone’s hands and they want to be a rock start.  Put a Hawaiian ukulele in someone’s hands and they just want to play music and smile.”

“‘It’s a P.M.S. Kind of Day,’ ‘The Doggie-Doo Blues,’ ‘Pooey, Pooey, Pooey, It’s Christmas,’ and other humorous songs about life in the 90’s fill this sparkling collection, entertaining written and sung and beautifully produced.”

Note:  This album was nominated for Best Adult Contemporary Album in the 2009 Hawaii Music Awards. It didn’t win and some folks were a little upset about that, like Ric Douglas, who wrote me the message below…

8 things That Can’t Be Robbed From Cali Are:

1. Classiness
2. Grace
3. Musicianship
4. Poise
5. Talent
6. Positive Attitude
7. Beauty
8. Craig (Cali’s husband)

…in no particular order

We just got your CD in the mail!  What a wonderful production, and you are as good as they get!!  Thank you SO much for sending it to us… We’ll do some more listening, but so far our favourite is “Maui Nights.”

“Sunny new release from Southern California-based Cali Rose. This time around fully 12 of the 13 tracks are by Ms. Rose with the only non-original (a nifty uke instrumental of Ode To Joy) by Mr. Beethoven. Lots of upbeat songs here like the opener “This Morning Something Wonderful Happened To Me (I Woke Up)” as well as fun songs about “Big Feet”, “My First Car” and even “It’s Easy To Play The Ukulele.” Smilex3 is a great sounding disk featuring Calis fine uke chops and her warm vocals joined by other studio pros on bass, drums, vibes, steel guitar and clarinet. Cali’s Ukulele Ohana group also sings with her on a couple of the tracks! A perfect summer disk!” 

“I LOVE the CD!!!! I am on my second listen and this morning I found myself just smiling. I actually have felt “not so happy” lately and then a series of things, your CD being one of them, turned on the happy inside. My favorites so far: This Morning Something Wonderful, Big Feet, There’s a Little Goodbye in Ev’ry Hello, and Boogie Down. Thank you so much.”

“I have officially worn out your new CD! I have played it at home, in the car, in other people’s cars, on the computer….you name it. I love it! Every song has its own personality and unique vibe. What truly makes it special is the fact that it puts one in a good mood immediately and makes even the worst of days seem not so blue. I don’t have a favorite because they are ALL my favorites! Thank you!”

“I have to say again how very much I enjoy your CDs. It feels like you singing just for me when I listen. Maybe it’s because I know you or perhaps it’s because I have seen you perform live, I don’t know. Your music feels personal to me. I am just as happy for you and you furthering your career. If I owned an airline, you’d have you own audio channel. Then again, I know how you feel about flying…”

“Cali Rose has contributed her CD “Are You Having Any Fun?” as a door prize. If you aren’t having any fun, you will be when you listen to her sing and play the ukulele. Funny, ironic and too cool to conga! This is what the uke is all about, thanks Cali!”

“Cali, it is so fine.  The arrangements, the mixing, the production level, not to mention your gorgeous vocal sound and the ukulele playing.  Just excellent.  All the work you did month after month — it’s all there.  What I like more is that you deliver what you promised.  All the songs make one smile; they tickle and tease.  This is what you wanted to do.  Make us smile.”

“On the 15 songs here Cali showcases her solid uke chops (both strumming and picking) and her warm and friendly vocals.  A clutch of standards share the CD with some well-crafted and hummable originals.  Highlights include the title song, Cole Porter’s ‘True Love,’ ‘On Green Dolphin Street,’ ‘Soup Du Jour,’ ‘Enjoy Yourself’ and a swingin’ version of the Andy Griffith TV Theme songs with her uke licks standing in for the famous whistle.  Other top tracks are her songs ‘Happy Ever After? No Such Ting’ and ‘Maui Nights.’  Expertly produced by Rick Cunha with a supporting cast of fine studio musicians, this CD is a gem.” [Flea Market Music]

“…thank you so much for sending me your CD. I love the music and it makes me smile to hear your voice. You are a very gifted siger/musician/entertainer. I’m glad your carrer is moving along. Thank you for all the happiess your music has brought me over the years…

Your latest CD is still my favorite and I always queue it up on the IPod first when we get airborne – puts me in the right mood and calms me down…not that the pre-departure cocktail wasn’t kicking in by then, but you are much purer sense of peace and calm. Maybe I shouldn’t say purer…I mean, Whoa!, check out the clam shells on Cali in Hawaii!! Regardless your voice is incredible.”

“My favorite song on your new CD is the waltz that describes your first car. I play it over and over being reminded of the VW bug that was my first college car.”

“Cali, I wanted you to know directly that I find your current CD a wonderful pleasure to hear. My enjoyment began with the first bar of “Are You Having Fun!” Yes!

“Hi young lady – I wear a size 10 shoe, and I have forever – big feet give us a good foundation and able to deal with life with all its good and bad surprises.”

“Chris and I wanted to pass along a thank you!  We have been playing your CD in the office this week and everyone here thoroughly enjoyed the tunes.  Being on the front end of “tings,” it’s always nice to see and hear the finished product.  It is especially nice when the music is as good as “Are you having any fun?”!  Very serene. Thanks again for sharing.” [Disc Makers]

If you are looking for an album that will chase away the blues and bring rainbows and sunshine into your life, this is the album for you!

Sharon is a freelance entertainment journalist, book reviewer and columnist published in the Las Vegas Review Journal and Ventura County Star, among others. 

“I love your CD – full of great music, talent, and such happiness! Thanks!”

“Just played your CD twice and loved it each time. Is the story of your VW bug true to life? The songs you write always amaze me. So creative.”
(Says Cali: Yes, everything in the song really happened. To my first car AND me.)