Harold Ashby

Harold Ashby (March 27, 1925, in Kansas City, Missouri, United States – June 13, 2003, in New York City) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. He worked with Duke Ellington's band, replacing Jimmy Hamilton in 1968. In 1959, he recorded backing Willie Dixon on the latter's first album, Willie's Blues.

After leaving the Duke Ellington Orchestra in 1975, Ashby worked as a freelance musician and took part in various reunions of Ellington alumni, as well as recording and gigging with his own bands.

Ashby suffered a heart attack in May 2003, and was hospitalized before dying at the age of 78, on June 13 that year.

Birth and Death Data: Born March 27, 1925 (Kansas City), Died June 13, 2003 (New York City)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1959

Roles Represented in DAHR: tenor saxophone

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Decca 106805 3/16/1959 Cherry pink Mercer Ellington Orchestra instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Decca 106806 3/16/1959 Azure Mercer Ellington Orchestra instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Decca 106807 3/16/1959 Little white lies Mercer Ellington Orchestra instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Decca 106808 3/18/1959 Coral rock Mercer Ellington Orchestra instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Decca 106809 3/18/1959 Aqua-tonic Mercer Ellington Orchestra instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Decca 106810 3/18/1959 Maroon Mercer Ellington Orchestra instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Decca 106811 3/18/1959 Black and tan fantasy Mercer Ellington Orchestra instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Decca 106812 3/18/1959 Mood indigo Mercer Ellington Orchestra instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Decca 106813 3/18/1959 Blue serge Mercer Ellington Orchestra instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Decca 106814 3/18/1959 Golden cress Mercer Ellington Orchestra instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Decca 106815 3/18/1959 The moon was yellow Mercer Ellington Orchestra instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Decca 106816 3/18/1959 Down of a greenhorn Mercer Ellington Orchestra instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Ashby, Harold," accessed March 28, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/302145.

Ashby, Harold. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 28, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/302145.

"Ashby, Harold." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 28 March 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/302145

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