ASHLEY

Clarence "Tom" Ashley (September 29, 1895 – June 2, 1967) was an American musician and singer, who played the clawhammer banjo and the guitar. Born in Bristol, Tennessee, Ashley grew up with musicians and began playing the banjo at eight years old. He began performing at medicine shows in the Southern Appalachian region as early as 1911, and gained initial fame during the late 1920s as both a solo recording artist and as a member of various string bands.

Ashley’s first recordings were in 1928 with the Blue Ridge Moutain Entertainers and later with the Carolina Tar Heels. In 1929, Columbia Records recruited Ashely for a solo record but the Great Depression hit and the effects of the economy made music and money scarce in the 30’s.

During the folk music revival of the late 1950’s and 1960’s, Ashely was rediscovered by the public and Ashley spent the last years of his life playing at folk music concerts, including appearances at Carnegie Hall in New York and at the Newport Folk Festival in Rhode Island alongside Doc Watson, Fred Price and Clint Howard.