Cali Folk with an Island Vibe
Ukulele Jim's music blends soulful songwriting with uplifting pop sensibilities. The unique combination of lively ukulele and sentimentally self-reflective themes is embodied in a style that he has truly made his own. For more than a decade Jim has been crafting a dynamic listening experience that resonates with people of all ages.Discover more about Ukulele Jim in his biography, through his discography, or via the social media and music links below. Thanks for dropping by!
Biography
Ukulele Jim is a self-taught musician and songwriter. As someone who yearned to be brought up in a musical household, Jim took it upon himself to make that dream a reality for his own children and ensure they would grow up in a home that was always full of music. The ukulele was a natural choice for its upbeat qualities. It's now safe to say that music has become a cornerstone in their lives, and as a result it has brought joy and purpose to his.From his home studio in California, Ukulele Jim uses the convenience of the Internet to work with talented musicians from all over the world, creating a virtual group free from geographical boundaries. This collaborative freedom allows Jim to switch styles between acoustic solo pieces to songs with a full band sound.Ukulele Jim's singular sound encompasses everything that is wholesome about the Americana genre and has been described as "Cali folk with an island vibe." The combination of his lilting voice with the sweetness of the ukulele results in infectiously catchy sing-along tracks that bridge the gaps between pop, rock, country and folk music.
Press
"Jim's songs are utterly charming, with lyrics that are clever, funny and, above all, sweet." — John O'Hara, Call It Folk Music"There is no doubt that Jim is a special musician with a lot of offer. His breezy tunes combined with lyrics that range from humorous to personal keep you hanging on and waiting for the next song. I wonder if he is really pushing the envelope enough since the songs seem so effortless and almost perfect." — Radio Maverick"Central to Clark's appeal is his inviting singing voice and the ukulele's unique ability to create a friendly, relaxing mood anywhere, anytime... a winning formula." —Hyberbolium"Catchy, sweet, and charming... In a sense, listening to Ukulele Jim is like falling in and out of love in Hawaii. A dynamic album, illustrating raw emotion and presenting it in a light-hearted, easy-listening fashion. A deep, romantic undertone is suggested throughout the entire album, but the playful ukelele pop creates a musical juxtaposition that keeps listeners from feeling burdened." — Ok Gina, The Band Lounge"Jim's voice has nice tone and excellent control. Really catchy, great melody, great production... Ukulele Jim has done it again." — Mickey Maguire, Ukulele Player Magazine
Photos
Music
The music of Ukulele Jim can be found online where most good music is streamed or sold.
Downloads, CDs, and merch are available on Bandcamp.
Interested in learning how to play Jim's cover version of "The Cowboy Song"
from the movie Joe vs. The Volcano? You can read more about that here.
Contact
You can reach Ukulele Jim on social media through the links at the bottom of the page, or use this form to send an email message directly to Jim.
The Ukulele Jim Songbook
Jim has put together a songbook of some of his most popular original tunes. Songs are presented in a simple notation of lyrics together with chords so you can learn how to play them on the ukulele. Each easy-to-read songsheet has clear chord diagrams ("fingering charts") and the ability to change the song key or instrument tuning as you go. The Ukulele Jim Songbook was created using Uke Geeks Song-o-Matic Online Editor.
The Cowboy Song
This page is about "The Cowboy Song" originally sung by Tom Hanks in the film Joe Versus The Volcano, written by John Patrick Shanley. Here are the Chords, Lyrics, and my version of this favorite song, along with a little bit of information. (If you want an MP3s of Tom Hanks singing this, sorry, I can’t help you there.) However, if you just want information about the song or you’re looking for the lyrics and/or tabs, keep reading.This is the song that made me want to learn ukulele in the first place. When my wife was pregnant with our twins I decided that I wanted to be able to play and sing this to them, so I bought a cheap ukulele and started teaching myself chord changes and strumming patterns. Before too long, I was playing “The Cowboy Song” as well as writing my own songs.Writer/director John Patrick Shanley wrote this song for the film. I contacted Mr. Shanley and asked him if I could cover the song on a new album of children’s music, and he graciously agreed (thanks, John!). So here’s my take on the song. I figured that when Joe Banks is singing this in the movie while stranded on his makeshift raft, he’s singing a song he’d heard somewhere before, so I tried to imagine what that ‘original’ song would have sounded like. This is what I came up with (click the Play button to give it a listen):
Okay, that’s it for my shameless self-promotion. Now how do you play it?There are only two chords in this song. In the movie, I think Tom Hanks plays F and C, or maybe he’s tuned a semi-tone up from GCEA so he’s actually playing F# and C#. I play them as G and D7 which is a little better for my singing range. Pick whichever chords work for you, and use a capo if you want to play in different keys using the chord shapes you are most comfortable with.The complete lyrics and chords of the song are as below. The part in italics were in the screenplay but not in the film.
Ee he o he-o [G]cowboy
Ee he o he-o [D7]oooo
Ee he o he-o cowboy, cowboy, cowboy
Under the [G]moon.I was ridin’ my [G]horse
by the Rio Grand[D7]ee
and all o’ them coyotes singing
in a prairie [G]symphony.I was ridin’ my [G]horse
down by the Rio Grand[D7]ee
when I seen me a cowboy, cowboy, cowboy,
ridin’ toward [G]me.Ee he o he-o [G]cowboy
Ee he o he-o [D7]oooo
Ee he o he-o cowboy, cowboy, cowboy
Under the [G]moon.He was twirling his [G]guns
And he had a gui[D7]tar
And we sang us up a sweet old
song about love
Under the [G]starsEe he o he-o [G]cowboy
Ee he o he-o [D7]oooo
Ee he o he-o cowboy, cowboy, cowboy
Under the [G]moon.[G]Giddyup!
This is an easy enough song that a simple DOWN-UP-DOWN-UP strum should work quite nicely. No need for anything fancy with this one.I hope you found this information helpful, and I hope you enjoyed my version of the song.Want to learn how to play my other songs? Check out the Ukulele Jim Songbook!
Upcoming Shows
06/20/2026
Ukulele Jim's Jumping Flea Circus LIVE!
Buellton Library06/20/2026
Luau Social
Atterdag Village, Solvang
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That's all for now. Check back later for more shows!
Past Performances
06/06/2026
Goleta Library Summer Reading Program Kick-Off
Goleta Community Center04/25/2026 & 05/02/2026
Santa Barbara Fair and Expo
Earl Warren Showgrounds, Santa Barbara11/30/2025 @ 10:00am
Farmer's Market
Camino Real Marketplace, Goleta10/12/2025 @ 10:00am
Farmer's Market
Camino Real Marketplace, Goleta09/28/2025 @ 10:00am
Farmer's Market
Camino Real Marketplace, Goleta09/27/2025 @ 11:00am
Goleta Lemon Festival
Girsh Park, Goleta09/26/2025 @ 3:15pm
Luau Social
Atterdag Village, Solvang06/30/2025
Ukulele Jim's Jumping Flea Circus LIVE!
Buellton Library06/24/2025
Ukulele Jim's Jumping Flea Circus LIVE!
City of Paso Robles Library06/24/2025
Ukulele Jim's Jumping Flea Circus LIVE!
Oak Park Community Room, Paso Robles06/14/2025
Goleta Library Summer Reading Program Kick-Off
Stow House, Goleta06/22/2025
Farmer's Market
Camino Real Marketplace, Goleta04/25/2025 - 05/04/2025
Santa Barbara Fair and Expo
Earl Warren Showgrounds, Santa Barbara04/27/2025
Farmer's Market
Camino Real Marketplace, Goleta09/28/2024
Goleta Lemon Festival
Girsh Park, Goleta06/15/2024
Ukulele Jim's Jumping Flea Circus LIVE!
Solvang Library04/28/24 & 05/05/24
Santa Barbara Fair and Expo
Earl Warren Showgrounds, Santa Barbara07/10/2021
Ukulele Jim's Jumping Flea Circus LIVE ONLINE!
Goleta Library07/10/2020
Ukulele Jim's Jumping Flea Circus LIVE ONLINE!
Buellton Library07/01/20
Ukulele Jim's Jumping Flea Circus LIVE ONLINE!
Solvang Library06/16/20
Ukulele Jim's Jumping Flea Circus LIVE ONLINE!
Goleta Library09/28/19
California Lemon Festival
Girsh Park, Goleta08/01/19
Reef & Run
Cabrillo Pavilion Arts Center, Santa Barbara07/27/19
Ukulele Jim's Jumping Flea Circus LIVE!
Goleta Library07/13/19
Ukulele Jim's Jumping Flea Circus LIVE!
Goleta Library06/18/19
Ukulele Jim's Jumping Flea Circus LIVE!
Montecito Library06/15/19
Ukulele Jim's Jumping Flea Circus LIVE!
Carpinteria Library05/18/19
Santa Barbara Children’s Music Festival
performing with Dirk Shumaker
San Marcos Parent-Child Workshop, Santa Barbara12/01/18
Hollister Village Plaza Holiday Market
Hollister Village Plaza, Goleta09/29/18
California Lemon Festival
Girsh Park, Goleta09/29/18
Ukulele Jim's Jumping Flea Circus LIVE!
Montecito Union School05/19/18
Santa Barbara Children’s Music Festival
performing with Dirk Shumaker
San Marcos Parent-Child Workshop, Santa Barbara04/26/18 - 04/29/18
Santa Barbara Fair and Expo
Earl Warren Showgrounds, Santa Barbara04/21/18 & 04/22/18
Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival
Kids Corner stage, Alameda Park, Santa Barbara03/15/18
Ukulele Jim’s Jumping Flea Circus LIVE!
Santa Barbara Eastside Library03/15/18
Ukulele Jim’s Jumping Flea Circus LIVE!
Montecito Library03/13/18
Ukulele Jim’s Jumping Flea Circus LIVE!
Carpinteria Library03/13/18
Ukulele Jim’s Jumping Flea Circus LIVE!
Buellton Library09/16/17
California Lemon Festival
Girsh Park, Goleta06/23/17
Ukulele Jim’s Jumping Flea Circus LIVE!
Carpinteria Library06/22/17
Ukulele Jim’s Jumping Flea Circus LIVE!
Santa Barbara Central Library06/22/17
Ukulele Jim’s Jumping Flea Circus LIVE!
Santa Barbara Eastside Library06/21/17
Pajama Storytime with Ukulele Jim
Solvang Library06/21/17
Ukulele Jim’s Jumping Flea Circus LIVE!
Buellton Library06/20/17
Ukulele Jim’s Jumping Flea Circus LIVE!
Montecito Library06/19/17
Ukulele Jim’s Jumping Flea Circus LIVE!
Goleta Library06/15/17
Reef and Run
Cabrillo Pavilion Arts Center, Santa Barbara05/20/17
Santa Barbara Children’s Music Festival
featuring Ukulele Jim, Spencer the Gardener, Boom Chaka,
Dirk Shumaker, Lucky Diaz & The Family Jam Band
San Marcos Parent-Child Workshop, Santa Barbara04/30/17
Santa Barbara Fair and Expo
Earl Warren Showground, Santa Barbara11/18/16
Holiday Marketplace
Santa Barbara Botanic Garden10/20/16
Falcon Fest Fundraiser
featuring Ukulele Jim, Spencer the Gardener, and Detention!
Foothill School, Santa Barbara10/08/16
Children’s Concert
performing with Spencer the Gardener, Alex Adams, and Adam Phillips
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Goleta09/27/16
Ukulele Jim’s Jumping Flea Circus LIVE!
Montecito Library09/24/16
California Lemon Festival
Girsh Park, Goleta07/18/16
Ukulele Jim’s Jumping Flea Circus LIVE!
Buellton Library06/23/16
Reef and Run
Cabrillo Pavilion Arts Center, Santa Barbara06/21/16
Ukulele Jim’s Jumping Flea Circus LIVE!
Montecito Library04/29/16 - 05/01/16:
Santa Barbara Fair and Expo
Earl Warren Showgrounds, Santa Barbara01/28/16
Ukulele Jim’s Jumping Flea Circus LIVE!
Santa Barbara Central Library01/27/16
Ukulele Jim’s Jumping Flea Circus LIVE!
Montecito Library01/13/16
Ukulele Jim’s Jumping Flea Circus LIVE!
Santa Barbara Eastside Library01/13/16
Ukulele Jim’s Jumping Flea Circus LIVE!
Goleta Library10/03/15
California Avocado Festival
Carpinteria09/26/15
California Lemon Festival
Girsh Park, Goleta07/23/15
Reef and Run
Cabrillo Pavilion Arts Center, Santa Barbara11/20/14 - 11/22/14
Holiday Marketplace
Santa Barbara Botanic Garden11/15/14
Santa Barbara Beer, Wine & Art Festival
Casa de la Guerra Courtyard, Santa Barbara09/21/14
California Lemon Festival
Girsh Park, Goleta06/26/14 & 07/17/14
Reef and Run
Cabrillo Pavilion Arts Center, Santa Barbara06/12/14 & 06/13/14
The Rocky Horror Show
San Marcos Royals Theater, Santa Barbara11/29/13
In Store Live
Granada Books, Santa Barbara11/24/13
Holiday Marketplace
Santa Barbara Botanic Garden09/29/13
California Lemon Festival
Girsh Park, Goleta09/28/13
Chiari Awareness Celebration
Tucker's Grove, Santa Barbara11/17/12 - 11/18/12
Holiday Marketplace
Santa Barbara Botanic Garden09/16/12
Chiari Awareness Celebration
Elings Park, Santa Barbara01/29/12
Young Life Romania Benefit Concert
First Presbyterian Church, Santa Barbara10/15/11
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Benefit Concert
Chase Palm Park, Santa Barbara10/02/11
First Friday Concert
Carpinteria09/17/11
Family Fitness & Baby Fair
Oak Park, Santa Barbara09/02/11
First Friday Concert
Carpinteria08/05/11
First Friday Concert
Carpinteria04/17/11
Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival
Downtown Santa Barbara08/28/10
Live at Weber's Place
Reseda05/17/09
Special Guest at the Live Culture Lounge
Downtown Santa Barbara12/27/07
Indie Music Show
featuring Ukulele Jim, Bruce Goldish, Lisa Goe, Nathan McEuen,
Delaney Gibson, Fly to Blue, Downtown Devils, and Christina Grimm
ROCKS, Santa Barbara
Photos
Right-click a picture and select "Save image" to download.