As those of you who’ve been following my ukulele exploits know, not only did I fall in love with George Formby, but I actually went ahead and joined the George Formby Society, where it turned out I was only the 12th U.S. member.

Since we’re so spaced out across the country, we’ve yet to meet face-to-face, our only contact being via email, Facebook, and Skype. I’m sure we’ll meet someday. But you can meet them now, and by their wonderful playing see the long road I must travel before I’ll properly be able to play this four-string weapon which has captured my heart.

First up, Nashville’s Johnny Foodstamp, covering the George Formby classic, “Why Don’t Women Like Me?”

Next, Dan Breton from Springfield, Massachusetts, with a Formby signature song, “When I’m Cleaning Windows.”

Here’s New York City’s John Bianchi, with (what did you expect?) another Formby cover, “In My Little Snapshot Album.”

And finally, there’s me, bringing up the rear, with my stripped-down version of “When I’m Cleaning Windows,” recorded on the five-month anniversary of the day I first picked up the ukulele.

There you have it—one-third of the U.S. contingent of the George Formby Society. That means there are eight more out there with whom I need to make contact.

And I will. Oh, I will. For it is a proud and lonely thing to be a George Formby fan in the U.S.

But not for long, I hope.