ABOUT ASHLEY
“I’M PASSIONATE ABOUT stories”
Ashley Lewis is a celebrated singer-songwriter and mandolinist rooted in Bluegrass, Country, and Gospel tradition.
Born and raised in Illinois, Ashley grew up with the tales of her family’s heritage from the hills of Kentucky before they migrated north to the Midwest. Ashley comments, “I’m passionate about stories…Bluegrass is in my blood, and I feel a deep calling to share these songs, stories, and traditions with the community. The hymns my mother sang to me as a child were the ones she heard her grandmother sing on the front porch of that farmhouse on the banks of the Rolling Fork River in LaRue County, KY, and I feel it is a gift and privilege to share these now with my audiences.”
Based near Nashville, she’s known for her fiery instrumentation, heartfelt vocals, and chart topping songs. She holds a degree in Music Performance with Presidential Honors and is a selected Illinois ArtsTour Artist, recognized for preserving the heritage of Bluegrass mandolin and is featured for her mandolin work and community outreach.
Also, with over a decade of experience as the Executive Marketing Manager at Bluegrass Today, Ashley has helped thousands of artists expand their reach, refine their launches, and connect with audiences worldwide.
A MUSICAL EXPERIENCE
Ashley Lewis & LEGACY
Receiving worldwide recognition for her music, Ashley Lewis and her band, Legacy, enthrall audiences across the country with fiery instrumentation and impassioned voice. Known for her sparkling vocals and captivating mandolin performances, Ashley is also a profound songwriter, and evidence of her bluegrass heritage appears in the words and music of her original songs. While her roots are in bluegrass, Ashley branches out to deliver an energetic and riveting performance with an innovative approach to all facets and genres of music while providing fresh definition to the traditional tunes. By blending a variety of mandolin styles and her own rhythmic technique, Ashley has developed that unique and distinctive Ashley Lewis signature sound.
Whether at home in the USA or abroad, her band consists of some of the finest talent known. The combined effects of pure vocals, smooth harmonies and acoustic instruments consisting of mandolin, fiddle, guitar, banjo, dobro, and upright bass blend to create that inspiring newgrass sound. They give an unforgettable performances with an honest and genuine quality that leaves audiences spellbound.
Award winning artist, Dale Ann Bradley comments on Ashley’s music, “I sat there with a smile on my face the whole time. You are a natural! You have the beauty in your heart and it comes through in your music.”
While touring and entertaining from coast to coast and beyond, some highlights have been her performance on the Emmy Award winning program, Arts Across Illinois on WTTW Centerstage, and has often been featured on the Avalon Theatre stage at the Fallsview Resort in Niagara Falls, Ontario.
A seven-time award recipient of the Illinois Arts Council for mandolin, she has also been recognized by the Illinois Arts Council as an accomplished and accredited Illinois ArtsTour musician who is preserving the heritage and art of Americana music. She graduated from Waubonsee College with a Music Performance degree and Presidential Honors. In 2007, she was honored with the prestigious “Fab 40” Award from the college for her musical contribution to society as a musical artist.
Ashley is thrilled to release her third album, Captivated. Produced by Jimmy Mattingly and co-produced by Ashley, Captivated is a contemporary twist of progressive grass and richly rooted tradition. With Ashley’s signature slick mandolin licks, impressively driven dobro by Andy Hall, the inspired bass playing of Dennis Crouch, fiery fiddling of Jimmy Mattingly, powerful banjo of Sammy Shelor, solid guitar of Cody Kilby, Kent Wells and Josh Williams along with the warm texture of Josh’s harmony, this album is a force to reckon with.
Producer Jimmy Mattingly says, “This album is a great example of an unbelievable talent which is portrayed on this project through Ashley’s prolific songwriting, musicianship, and passionate vocal style.”
With a plethora of veteran talents also including Vince Gill, Carl Jackson, Jon Randall and more, this CD soars through 12 of Ashley’s original songs, including “Ghost” written with IBMA Songwriter of the Year, Jon Weisberger, plus a beautiful rendition of “Hallelujah” and an unforgettable retro cut of “Minor Swing.”
This impressive band lineup includes 8-Time Illinois State Banjo Champion, Doug Knecht, Guitar player extraordinaire, Jon Mollenhauer, and powerhouse Bassist, Teresa Fry.
