Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Clark!
“I had always wanted to write a Christmas song. After I had written “Orange Christmas” last year I figured I could cross that off my list of song subjects. Then out of nowhere, in February of all months, “It’s Still Snowing Outside” fell from the sky and began dancing around in my head like sugar plums,” James explains the inspiration for the single.
https://www.youtube.com/user/clartoons
“We all experience that first Christmas without a loved one. The lyrics pertain to my own personal experience after losing my father and then several years later, my brother.”
Listen on Spotify here: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0RGUZasiJfrnipMQKC3fwd?si=BY22a1QORUWTImv1ry7LqA&nd=1&dlsi=652c16a06c944a6a
James, Randy and Donald Clark are captured on the back of the single sleeve in a perfect seasonal shot of Dad cutting down a Christmas tree for his boys.
ABOUT THE JAMES CLARK INSTITUTE
Whether he is in the institute or not Toronto based music artist James Clark is a doctor of pop. His prescription is simple, three-minute blasts of medicinal music. “A wealth of songwriting talent.” says renowned music writer/ ex-MuchMusic VJ Michael Williams in Cashbox Canada.
When he wasn’t listening to his parents’ early rock and roll and country and western records, James, persuaded by his guitar playing older brother, settled in behind the drum kit and discovered the artists that would influence him, Lennon & McCartney, Ray Davies and Elvis Costello. Their influence can be heard on the last three James Clark Institute full length releases: 2016’s “Yesterday’s Misadventures” (an album which ended up on many a year-end best of list), 2021’s “The Colour Of Happy” (released during that strange lockdown moment in history) and “Under The Lampshade”, (released in November 2023). All three of these critically acclaimed albums were produced by Canadian icon, Moe Berg (TPOH, TransCanada Highwaymen).
Producer Moe Berg adds “James takes the power pop traditions of The Beatles, Jellyfish and Split Enz and combines them with the high IQ lyrics of Elvis Costello and Joe Jackson. The result makes him one of Canada’s greatest unsung songwriters”.
The current James Clark Institute lineup consists of James on lead vocals, electric and acoustic guitars and harmonica,Tom Gibson on electric lead guitars; Tim Gall on bass, Greg Condie on keys and Dean Carl Glover on drums and harmony vocals
The JCI will be performing an upcoming holiday shows Saturday December 13 at Toronto’s Legendary El Mocambo.
Check listing at the website for the El Mocambo https://elmocambo.com/
For more on the James Clark Institute visit:
https://www.clarkinstitute.com
https://www.instagram.com/jamesclarkinstitute
https://www.facebook.com/jamesclarkinstitute
Editor’s Note: You can request both songs on Cashbox Radio as part of December 2025 Christmas Playlist!