Irving Ashby

Irving Conrad Ashby (December 29, 1920 – April 22, 1987) was an American jazz guitarist.

Ashby was born in Somerville, Massachusetts and started playing guitar when he was nine. His career started in 1940 when he became a member of Lionel Hampton's band, and he played on Hampton's hit "Flying Home". In 1947, he took over for Oscar Moore in the Nat King Cole Trio.

He then briefly replaced Charlie Smith, a drummer, in the Oscar Peterson Trio, producing a line-up (piano, guitar, bass) similar to the Cole Trio's; the substitution of a guitarist for a drummer continued until 1958. After leaving the Peterson Trio, Ashby concentrated on session work, which included recording with Norman Granz, Sheb Wooley, LaVern Baker, Howard Roberts, B.B. King, Louis Jordan, and Pat Boone. In addition to guitar, Ashby played the upright bass. Ashby died in April 1987 in Perris, California, at the age of 66.

Birth and Death Data: Born Somerville (city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States), Died April 22, 1987 (Perris (city in Riverside County, Southern California, United States) )

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1940 - 1957

Roles Represented in DAHR: guitar, composer, vocalist, songwriter

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

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 28 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor PBS-055230 10-in. 12/19/1940 Altitude Lionel Hampton Sextet Jazz/dance band composer  
Victor PBS-055236 10-in. 12/20/1940 Smart aleck Lionel Hampton Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Exclusive EXC-1230 10-in. 12/31/1949 Tatoe pie Jack McVea Orchestra ; Jack McVea composer  
Atlantic 2365 10-in. 3/15/1957 Jim dandy got married LaVern Baker instrumentalist, guitar  
Atlantic 2366 10-in. 3/15/1957 Love me right LaVern Baker instrumentalist, guitar  
Imperial BW-726 10-in. 1945 Harlem bop, pt. 1 Howard McGhee instrumentalist, guitar  
Imperial BW-727 10-in. 1945 Harlem bop, pt. 2 Howard McGhee instrumentalist, guitar  
Imperial IM-1042 10-in. 4/4/1956 Return to me Ernie Freeman instrumentalist, guitar  
Imperial IM-1044 10-in. 4/4/1956 Spring fever Ernie Freeman instrumentalist, guitar  
Imperial IM-1045 10-in. 4/4/1956 Walking the beat Ernie Freeman instrumentalist, guitar  
Imperial IM-1048 10-in. 4/12/1956 Rainy day Ernie Freeman instrumentalist, guitar  
Imperial IM-1049 10-in. 4/12/1956 Funny face Ernie Freeman instrumentalist, guitar  
Imperial IM-1163 10-in. 10/8/1956 Night winds Irving Ashby instrumentalist, guitar, vocalist  
Imperial IM-1165 10-in. 10/8/1956 Loco-motion Irving Ashby vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar, songwriter  
Imperial IM-1430 10-in. 10/14/1957 Raunchy Ernie Freeman instrumentalist, guitar  
Imperial IM-1431 10-in. 10/14/1957 Puddin' Ernie Freeman instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 70100 10-in. 12/24/1941 Just for you Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 70101 10-in. 12/24/1941 Southern echoes Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 70102 10-in. 12/24/1941 My wish Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 70103 10-in. 12/24/1941 Nola Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 70416 10-in. 3/2/1942 Royal family Lionel Hampton Sextet instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 70417 10-in. 3/2/1942 I can't believe that you're in love with me Lionel Hampton Sextet instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 70418 10-in. 3/2/1942 Blues in the news Lionel Hampton Sextet instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 70419 10-in. 3/2/1942 Exactly like you Lionel Hampton Sextet instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 70771 10-in. 5/26/1942 Now I know Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
(Results 1-25 of 28 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Ashby, Irving," accessed December 24, 2025, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106396.

Ashby, Irving. (2025). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved December 24, 2025, from http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106396.

"Ashby, Irving." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2025. Web. 24 December 2025.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106396

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