Carla Ulbrich
Encyclopedia
Carla Ulbrich is an American
singer-songwriter
, guitarist
, author
, and self-described "professional smart aleck" from Clemson, South Carolina
.
Despite the distractions, Ulbrich received a BA in music
from Brevard College
. Having many parody
or novelty
songs in her repertoire (such as "Duet with a Klingon" based on "Let's Call the Whole Thing Off", with a Klingon taking the male lead), she is featured regularly on the Dr. Demento
Radio Show and XM radio, and has also appeared on USA, WGN, WVIA and PAX TV, as well as Sirius radio, the BBC, and numerous NPR affiliates.
She has won numerous songwriting awards, including "Novelty Song of the Year" in 2006 from the Just Plain Folks awards for her piece "What If Your Butt was Gone?"
Many of her pieces are of a humorous nature, reflecting on human life. A self-proclaimed ambassador for forgotten song topics, she has written songs about unappreciated elements, such as "The Guy Who Changes the Lightbulbs (Changes Everything)", "Nothing to Say", "Prednisone
" and "The Wedgie
".
Her album Sick Humor (2004) deals with Carla's real-life recovery from multiple stroke
s and kidney failure she suffered in 2002. This collection of songs has led to appearances at The Alaska Palliative Care conference, Medicaid, the Association of Applied and Therapeutic Humor, the Society for Arts in Healthcare, and other medical gatherings.
Her song "If I Had the Copyright" was featured in the documentary "Fuck
", released November 2006 (directed by Steve Anderson).
Touring since about 1997, Carla has performed in England, Canada and much of the US (including Alaska), appearing at venues small and large. She has graced the stages of the Bluebird Cafe
, Eddie's Attic
, the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival
, Florida Folk Festival
, South Florida Folk Festival
, Wildflower! Arts and Music Festival
, Kerrville Folk Festival
, Avalon Nude Folk Festival, DragonCon, MarsCon, FenCon
(and numerous other science fiction and/or filk conventions), various colleges, a few comedy clubs, private and corporate parties, nursing, patient and caregiver conventions, a few unusual weddings, and the Chet Atkins Appreciation Society Convention.
Carla has taught guitar at 3 colleges, 3 music stores and her own private teaching studio, as well as Hummingbird Music camp and the National Guitar Summer Workshop. Her music instruction book "Notespeller" was published by Alfred Knopf in 2001.
Carla has recently penned a book of humorous essays on recovering health after a catastrophic illness entitled "How Can You *Not* Laugh at a Time Like This?" (pub. Tell Me Press, Feb.1, 2011).
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
, guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
, author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
, and self-described "professional smart aleck" from Clemson, South Carolina
Clemson, South Carolina
Clemson is a college town located in Pickens County in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 11,939 at the 2000 census and center of an urban cluster with a total population of 42,199...
.
Career
Humorous songwriter Carla Ulbrich started out at age 9 as a classical guitarist, inspired by her aunt, Pat Brothwell, who was pursuing a degree in classical guitar at the time. Carla started writing songs in college (when she was supposed to be practicing "real" music).Despite the distractions, Ulbrich received a BA in music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
from Brevard College
Brevard College
Brevard College is a small, private, United Methodist, liberal arts college in Brevard, North Carolina. The college currently grants the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, or Bachelor of Music degree...
. Having many parody
Parody music
Parody music, or musical parody, involves changing or recycling existing musical ideas or lyrics — or copying the peculiar style of a composer or artist, or even a general style of music. Although the result is often funny, and this is the usual intent — the term "parody" in musical terms also...
or novelty
Novelty song
A novelty song is a comical or nonsensical song, performed principally for its comical effect. Humorous songs, or those containing humorous elements, are not necessarily novelty songs. The term arose in Tin Pan Alley to describe one of the major divisions of popular music. The other two divisions...
songs in her repertoire (such as "Duet with a Klingon" based on "Let's Call the Whole Thing Off", with a Klingon taking the male lead), she is featured regularly on the Dr. Demento
Dr. Demento
Barret Eugene Hansen , better known as Dr. Demento, is a radio broadcaster and record collector specializing in novelty songs, comedy, and strange or unusual recordings dating from the early days of phonograph records to the present....
Radio Show and XM radio, and has also appeared on USA, WGN, WVIA and PAX TV, as well as Sirius radio, the BBC, and numerous NPR affiliates.
She has won numerous songwriting awards, including "Novelty Song of the Year" in 2006 from the Just Plain Folks awards for her piece "What If Your Butt was Gone?"
Many of her pieces are of a humorous nature, reflecting on human life. A self-proclaimed ambassador for forgotten song topics, she has written songs about unappreciated elements, such as "The Guy Who Changes the Lightbulbs (Changes Everything)", "Nothing to Say", "Prednisone
Prednisone
Prednisone is a synthetic corticosteroid drug that is particularly effective as an immunosuppressant drug. It is used to treat certain inflammatory diseases and some types of cancer, but has significant adverse effects...
" and "The Wedgie
Wedgie
A wedgie occurs when a person's underwear or other garments are wedged between the buttocks. While a wedgie can be created naturally, the term is usually associated with a prank or as a form of bullying...
".
Her album Sick Humor (2004) deals with Carla's real-life recovery from multiple stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
s and kidney failure she suffered in 2002. This collection of songs has led to appearances at The Alaska Palliative Care conference, Medicaid, the Association of Applied and Therapeutic Humor, the Society for Arts in Healthcare, and other medical gatherings.
Her song "If I Had the Copyright" was featured in the documentary "Fuck
Fuck (film)
Fuck is a 2005 documentary by director/producer Steve Anderson and Rainstorm Entertainment about the social, political, personal, historical, linguistic and artistic significance of the word fuck...
", released November 2006 (directed by Steve Anderson).
Touring since about 1997, Carla has performed in England, Canada and much of the US (including Alaska), appearing at venues small and large. She has graced the stages of the Bluebird Cafe
Bluebird cafe
The Bluebird Cafe is a music club in Nashville, Tennessee that opened in 1982. The club is famous for intimate, acoustic music performed by its composers...
, Eddie's Attic
Eddie's Attic
Eddie's Attic is a music club in Decatur, Georgia. Founded in 1992 by Eddie Owen, it is a venue for both local musical talent and musicians of some acclaim who often got their start in the Atlanta area. Artists who developed their fanbase at Eddie's Attic include Shawn Mullins, Sugarland, Indigo...
, the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival
Falcon Ridge Folk Festival
The Falcon Ridge Folk Festival is an American annual folk-oriented music festival and dance festival formerly held at the Long Hill Farm in Hillsdale, New York, USA. In 2006, the event moved to nearby Dodds Farm, just off Rt. 22, five miles north of the Rt. 22/Rt. 23 intersection in Hillsdale, on...
, Florida Folk Festival
Florida Folk Festival
Florida Folk Festival is a long-running annual folk music festival in Hamilton County, Florida. -External links:**...
, South Florida Folk Festival
South Florida Folk Festival
South Florida Folk Festival is an annual music and arts festival in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States sponsored by the Broward Folk Club.-External links:*...
, Wildflower! Arts and Music Festival
Wildflower! Arts and Music Festival
The Wildflower! Arts and Music Festival is an event held annually in Richardson, Texas, and typically has a turn out of about 60,000 people...
, Kerrville Folk Festival
Kerrville Folk Festival
The Kerrville Folk Festival is a music festival held for 18 consecutive days in the late spring/early summer at Quiet Valley Ranch near Kerrville, Texas. The event has run on a yearly basis since 1972. In November 2008, the Kerrville Folk Festival and Kerrville Wine & Music Festival were acquired...
, Avalon Nude Folk Festival, DragonCon, MarsCon, FenCon
FenCon
FenCon is a literary science fiction and fantasy convention with filk held each year on or around the fourth full weekend of September in or around Dallas, Texas...
(and numerous other science fiction and/or filk conventions), various colleges, a few comedy clubs, private and corporate parties, nursing, patient and caregiver conventions, a few unusual weddings, and the Chet Atkins Appreciation Society Convention.
Carla has taught guitar at 3 colleges, 3 music stores and her own private teaching studio, as well as Hummingbird Music camp and the National Guitar Summer Workshop. Her music instruction book "Notespeller" was published by Alfred Knopf in 2001.
Carla has recently penned a book of humorous essays on recovering health after a catastrophic illness entitled "How Can You *Not* Laugh at a Time Like This?" (pub. Tell Me Press, Feb.1, 2011).
Discography
- "Live From Outer Space," 2009
- "Leftovers," 2009
- Sick Humor, 2004
- Professional Smart Aleck, 2003
- Her Fabulous Debut, 1999
- Carla Ulbrich, cassette, 1997
- Something Real, cassette, 1994
External links
- Carla U - official site for Carla Ulbrich
- Carla Ulbrich MySpace page
- TheSingingPatient.com
- Carla Ulbrich channel on YouTubeYouTubeYouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
- Carla Ulbrich on AmazonAmazon.comAmazon.com, Inc. is a multinational electronic commerce company headquartered in Seattle, Washington, United States. It is the world's largest online retailer. Amazon has separate websites for the following countries: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, and...