Harold Ashby, who died on June 13 at the age of 78, was one of the last surviving members of Duke Ellington’s orchestra. He played tenor saxophone in its ranks from 1968 until 1975.
Ashby later played with Sy Oliver’s band at the Rainbow Room in New York and did a short tour with Benny Goodman.
June 20, 2003 by
Harold Ashby
Categories: Musicians
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=%2Fnews%2F2003%2F06%2F21%2Fdb2103.xml
Thank you for the current link. This obit has been updated.
I THINK THAT HAROLOD ASHBY WAS EXTREMELY UNDERATED AND EVEN BELITTLED BY JAZZ ENTHUSIASTS ALIKE, NOT TO MENTION SOME OF DUKES SIDE MEN. HE FITTED IN PERFECTLY WITH THE SOUND THAT DUKE’S ORCHESTRA HAD DEVELOPED INTO DURING THE LATE 60’S UNTIL THE MID 70’S.
HE WAS A TRUE ELLINGTONIAN, ANOTHER WHO WILL BE, BY MYSELF AT LEAST, DEEPLY MISSED.
Fot Ashby fans I have just posted a 1987 interview 14 minutes which I did with Harold in Seville for my radio programme at the time. It is the unedited tape which has been at the back of teh cupbaord.
I am new to creating webs but I think the best way to hear it is to download.
If you email put jazz in the subject and avoid being spammed.
http://www.jazzure.com