Steve Ashley

Steve Frank Ashley
Steve Ashley performing at Union Chapel, Islington, London in 2007
Background information
Born	(1946-03-09) March 9, 1946 (age 71) London, England, United Kingdom
Occupation(s)	Singer-songwriter, recording artist, multi-instrumentalist, writer, graphic designer
Website	steveashley.co.uk

Steve Frank Ashley (born 9 March 1946 in Perivale, London) is a British singer-songwriter, recording artist, multi-instrumentalist, writer and graphic designer. Ashley is best known as a songwriter and first gained public recognition for his work with his debut solo album, Stroll On (Gull, 1974). Taking his inspiration from English traditional songs, Ashley has developed a songwriting style, which is contemporary in content while reflecting traditional influences in his melodies, poetry and vocal delivery.

Ashley grew up Northolt, Middlesex (now in the London Borough of Ealing). In his early teens, he immersed himself in rock 'n' roll, blues and American folk music. He saw Buddy Holly, Gene Vincent and Lonnie Donegan perform live during his first years at secondary school. In 1960 he learned to play the mouth organ and developed a blues style influenced by Sonny Terry and Sonny Boy Williamson.

After secondary school, he enrolled at Ealing Art College for the two-year ground course under the tuition of Roy Ascott. Among Ashley’s contemporaries at the college were many musicians, including (in the year ahead) Pete Townshend,Ronnie Wood and Roger Ruskin Spear. By 1962, Ashley was singing and playing blues harmonica in various bands. He also became seriously interested in British traditional music, performing unaccompanied songs in West London folk clubs. In 1964 he moved to Maidstone, Kent to study graphic design. There he met Peter Bellamy and joined him as a fellow resident singer in folk clubs in Maidstone and Rochester. At the same time, Ashley led the art college blues band, The Tea Set, on vocals and blues harmonica.