Ashley Maher

Ashley Maher was born to British parents in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and moved to Los Angeles at the age of five. Her parents encouraged her singing from an early age, and she tried out many styles, including jazz, choral and medieval music. She even studied opera for a year in Italy.

The turning point was a chance visit to a class in African music at UC Berkeley held by C.K. Ladzekpo, a master drummer from Ghana. An instant convert to West African rhythms, she studied with him for two years before finishing her degree and moving to London.

In London, Ashley performed with an Afro-pop band for two years before making her first demo tape, featuring her intricate vocals woven with Ghanaian drumming. The demo soon led to her signing a contract with Virgin Records and Virgin released her first two albums: "Hi" and Pomegranate. Both received excellent reviews worldwide.

When EMI bought Virgin Records, Ashley left the label and went on to independently record a third CD, The Blessed Rain, in Paris and London with top West African musicians.

Returning to Los Angeles shortly after completing The Blessed Rain," Ashley has been building her career there ever since. She has performed extensively and opened for major world music icons like Salif Keita, Baaba Maal, Vusi Mahlasela, Orchestra Baobab, Zap Mama, and Dobet Gnahore. Ashley released a fourth CD, Flying Over Bridges in 2006. Produced by Cameroon's Andre Manga, it features some of Los Angeles' finest world/jazz musicians. Cameroonian saxophone legend, Manu Dibango co-wrote the song Club Dibango and the Rising Son and Youssou N'Dour's guitarist Jimi Mbaye guests.

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