Biography
In the 1910s and 1920s, Clarence (Tom) Ashley worked the medicine show circuit, yet his early recordings later shaped the urban folk revival after their appearance on the 1952 Folkways compilation Anthology of American Folk Music. Though he left that circuit behind in 1943, Ashley staged a strong return during the early 1960s through two albums that introduced flatpicking guitarist Arthel "Doc" Watson to wider audiences.
Ashley derived his surname from the maternal grandfather who raised him and drew early inspiration from the jokes and songs of transients who lodged in the family home. His mother's two older sisters passed along both repertoire and banjo instruction. After joining his first medicine show in 1913, he toured the southern Appalachian region by horse and buggy, performing while "the doc" peddled elixirs. In 1914 he married Hettie Osborne and established a home in Shouns, TN.
Although farming and sawmill work supplemented his earnings, Ashley kept performing. By 1927 he appeared regularly with string bands such as the Blue Ridge Entertainers and recorded as a member of Byrd Moore & His Hot Shots as well as the Carolina Tar Heels. His solo debut arrived in 1929 with Columbia sides "The Cuckoo Bird" and "The House Carpenter." Columbia signed him as Clarence Ashley and Victor as Tom Ashley, and he continued recording for both until 1933.
After retiring from medicine shows in 1943, Ashley purchased a truck and, together with his son J.D., hauled coal, furniture, and lumber. Occasional stage work found him serving as comedian for Charlie Monroe's Kentucky Partners and the Stanley Brothers.
String-band revivalists rediscovered his material in the 1950s, but Ashley had largely vanished from musical circles. At the 1960 Union Grove Old Time Fiddlers Convention he encountered folklorist Ralph Rinzler, who, alongside song collector Eugene Earle, arranged a recording session at Ashley's daughter's home in Saltville, VA. Ashley asked Watson to provide guitar accompaniment, marking Watson's first acoustic session after earlier electric work in rockabilly and country bands. Beginning in 1961, Ashley and Watson, joined by fiddler Fred Price, played northern folk festivals, coffeehouses, and clubs. Their New York Town Hall concert became their second album release. Ashley later recorded one more album with fiddler Tex Isley.
Ashley derived his surname from the maternal grandfather who raised him and drew early inspiration from the jokes and songs of transients who lodged in the family home. His mother's two older sisters passed along both repertoire and banjo instruction. After joining his first medicine show in 1913, he toured the southern Appalachian region by horse and buggy, performing while "the doc" peddled elixirs. In 1914 he married Hettie Osborne and established a home in Shouns, TN.
Although farming and sawmill work supplemented his earnings, Ashley kept performing. By 1927 he appeared regularly with string bands such as the Blue Ridge Entertainers and recorded as a member of Byrd Moore & His Hot Shots as well as the Carolina Tar Heels. His solo debut arrived in 1929 with Columbia sides "The Cuckoo Bird" and "The House Carpenter." Columbia signed him as Clarence Ashley and Victor as Tom Ashley, and he continued recording for both until 1933.
After retiring from medicine shows in 1943, Ashley purchased a truck and, together with his son J.D., hauled coal, furniture, and lumber. Occasional stage work found him serving as comedian for Charlie Monroe's Kentucky Partners and the Stanley Brothers.
String-band revivalists rediscovered his material in the 1950s, but Ashley had largely vanished from musical circles. At the 1960 Union Grove Old Time Fiddlers Convention he encountered folklorist Ralph Rinzler, who, alongside song collector Eugene Earle, arranged a recording session at Ashley's daughter's home in Saltville, VA. Ashley asked Watson to provide guitar accompaniment, marking Watson's first acoustic session after earlier electric work in rockabilly and country bands. Beginning in 1961, Ashley and Watson, joined by fiddler Fred Price, played northern folk festivals, coffeehouses, and clubs. Their New York Town Hall concert became their second album release. Ashley later recorded one more album with fiddler Tex Isley.
Albums
