TORRANCE, Calif. — During the holidays, one Torrance driveway has been transforming into center stage for holiday carols and a large band that sings and shares these songs with the melodic sound of ukuleles.

"This is so much fun. Just the people passing and singing along with us and caroling. It brings such joy,” Dennis Perry said.

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Perry has been playing with the South Bay Strummers band for the last 15 years. During that time, he's spent each holiday season playing with his band, strumming holiday carols with ukuleles as visitors come by to enjoy music and the holiday lights in the Seaside neighborhood in Torrance.

The Strummers' sound became a holiday tradition that's been celebrated for the last 15 years. But when their bandmate and World War II veteran, Jack,  passed away at the age of 91-years-old, they not only lost a passionate ukulele player, but the driveway they built this tradition on.

“He was the most fun ukulele player you can imagine. He had the most passion the most joy playing. He sang the loudest and played the loudest,” Perry said.

A few years before his passing, his next-door neighbors Misty and Brian Ormsby decided to continue this holiday tradition in their own driveway in honor of the tradition Jack created in their neighborhood. 

“He came over and sat with them the very last two years for a little bit and then had to go back in. But he was honored that we would take care of them for him,” Ormsby said.

For the last five years, the South Bay Strummers have found their new home for the holidays in the Ormsby’s driveway right next-door to where this holiday tradition started.

“I’m sure he’s smiling down on them. I’m sure he’s up in heaven playing the ukulele,” Ormsby said.

With each strum of the ukulele, Perry, the Ormsby’s and the South Bay Strummers remember Jack through holiday carols and a tradition their grateful to carry on in his name.

The South Bay Strummers are always looking for more ukulele players to join them each Saturday at the Bartlett Senior Center in Torrance.