Wendy Uribe is a veteran flight attendant who knows airline rules for carrying instruments better than most – because she often travels with them. Bringing home synthesizers has become part of her life – and the ongoing story of her Instagram feed, The Wing Piano.
“You can bring a cello, you can bring a keyboard – I know the policy of how the instruments need to be by the window, so people can exit if there’s an emergency evacuation.”
Recently, she secured a rare Yamaha SS-30 string synthesizer by purchasing it online and picking it up in person – even though that meant making multiple flights and crossing a border.
“I was looking for months for that instrument. I finally found it on Reverb.com, and the seller was in Canada. So I flew into Buffalo, rented a car, and drove across the border.”
Her first big catch was a Wurlitzer 200A, followed by a Fender Rhodes Mark V. As a huge ABBA fan, she had seen Benny Andersson perform with a Yamaha SS-30 between a Rhodes and an ARP Odyssey, inspiring that particular search.
During overnight stays between flights, Wendy began hunting for vintage gear and posting covers on Instagram. “One day, I got a notification that Jefferson Starship had shared my cover of Sara, so I was like, ‘Oh my God, this is so cool!’ Then ABBA shared one too. I started doing it just for fun – but it’s crazy how far it’s gone.”
Her following soon grew past 50,000, and when she’s not in the air, she’s often at home recording new videos.
Take a chance on Moog
Wendy had played piano since she was ten, but it wasn’t until the pandemic that her passion reignited.
“I’ve always been one of those kids who want to do a lot of things. My parents enrolled me in piano classes, but I wasn’t particularly serious about it. Fast-forward to becoming a flight attendant – the pandemic happened, and suddenly I was looking for things to do on my overnights.”
She started travelling with a small synth she could play in the air or at hotel layovers. Once the collecting bug bit, she knew she needed a Minimoog.
“I learned about it from Benny Andersson, who used it for a lot of basslines and leads. I mean, if I’m gonna have a Rhodes and a Wurlitzer, I need a Minimoog!
“I couldn’t afford a vintage one, but when they reissued it, I jumped on it the day it was announced.”
Since then, her Model D has become a star of her channel, appearing in covers of Tarzan Boy, Better Off Alone, and even a medley of ice-cream-truck tunes. A Mario Bros. bass riff brought nearly 150,000 views.
International feel
“The Minimoog really gets your brain moving and your ear working,” she says. “Even if it doesn’t have patch memories, it’s such a joy!”
Born into a Mexican-American family in El Paso, Wendy frequently incorporates Latin American songs into her videos. A cover of the Chilean show 31 Minutos brought a surge in followers.
“I focus on content for Spanish-speaking countries, because there’s not much representation. There’s so much good music that used these instruments, but not enough people know about it.
“Also, there aren’t many women in the synth world, which is another reason I share my work – to inspire more women to get involved. It’s rewarding when girls write to say they love seeing female musicians playing these vintage instruments and learning the history behind them – especially the Minimoog.”
Check out the full interview and many more in The Minimoog Book:
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