If you were looking for the website of Clive Harvey, musician, songwriter and writer, well done, you've found it. If you weren't... well, you've found it anyway and, who knows? – it could be your lucky day. Was it Confucius who said, "Knowledge gained by accident is no accident; listen to what the universe is telling you"? or was it Obi Wan Kenobi? Actually it was me, but it's true. If you don't know the reason why the cybersurf has tossed you up on this particular beach, read on... maybe all will become clear soon.

As a professional musician for many years, Clive has travelled (some would say wandered aimlessly but they're just jealous) far and wide, even to Hong Kong and deep into Norfolk. Along the way he has played onstage with Paul McCartney and supported Van Morrison, Victoria Wood and the legendary Lonnie Donegan. He has wide musical tastes and, although he hates pigeonholing, has worked in various "genres" including rock’n’roll, jazz, Cajun and folk.

But Clive’s mainstay has been purveying quirky British humour, mainly via the medium of his own songs. In the 70s and 80s his band Roaring Jelly were, according to the Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music, "pioneers of alternative comedy before the term became fashionable". More recently The Omega 3 have carried on in the Jelly mould, in the style they call Essential Batty Acids.

Meanwhile, however, in an interesting twist of fate, Clive is increasingly busy with ukulele-related solo work: gigs, workshops and 1-to-1 tuition. It was seeing Clive playing uke in Roaring Jelly in the 80s that provided a major inspiration to the founders of the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain, who in turn have played a huge role in popularising the sweet little "jumping flea". So it's come full circle. And it's only taken twenty-five years!

Laurie van Truck, 2010

See the FACEBOOK button, top right, near Clive's left shoulder? That will take you to Clive's ukulele page on Facebook – Clive Harvey's Jumping Flea Bag. Take a look. If you like it – "like" it !

This website © C. Harvey 2010