Irving Conrad Ashby (December 29, 1920 – April 22, 1987) was an American
jazz guitarist.[1]
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.[2][3]
He then briefly replaced
Charlie Smith, a drummer, in the
Oscar Peterson Trio,[4] 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.[1]