The Cliff Edwards (Ukulele Ike) hit from 1928, recorded here in the key of C so the chords are pretty easy to play. I mixed up some strumming and fingerpicking along the way. You can strum or pick according to what sounds good to you.

“Halfway to Heaven” by Cliff Edwards is a lively jazz-age song from the late 1920s. The lyrics capture the excitement of falling in love, comparing the experience to being “halfway to heaven” with the object of one’s affection. The song features upbeat instrumentals and Edwards’ signature ukulele playing, blending early jazz and pop influences. It conveys a sense of joy and optimism, characteristic of the era’s romantic tunes.

About Cliff Edwards (Ukulele Ike)

Cliff Edwards (1895–1971), known as “Ukulele Ike,” was an American singer, actor, and musician, best remembered for popularizing the ukulele and for voicing Jiminy Cricket in Disney’s Pinocchio (1940). Born in Hannibal, Missouri, he began his career as a singer in St. Louis saloons before moving to Chicago and later New York, where he gained fame in the 1920s.

Edwards’ signature style blended jazz and novelty tunes, and his scatting technique, known as “eefin’,” set him apart. He recorded hit songs like “Singin’ in the Rain” (1929) and became a radio, stage, and film star, often appearing in early Hollywood musicals. Despite his success, financial struggles and declining health marked his later years.

Though he died in relative obscurity, his legacy endures through his contributions to music and animation, particularly his performance of “When You Wish Upon a Star.”