Presenting Amazing Facts : Dorothy Ashby Harp Artist by @sweetjoy

Have you heard of Dorothy Ashby? Pretty sure you may have heard her harping in the background of your favorite songs. Let me tell you more.
I wanted to do some research on harps recently, for reasons known by some..:). And to my surprise I found this black woman Dorothy Jeanne Ashby. She has worked with many famous artists in the 50's and 60's, but she nor her harp was known to me.
I recently took a history of music course a my local city college. I do not remember her name at all. (I was absent twice tho...cough cough. :))
These are some of the things that amazed me about her life that I want to share.
Ashby was born in Michigan and got her degree in music. She had talent. She played the piano and stringbass. She put on recitals and musicals for the school. Then came the harp. Only after two years of picking up the harp she was performing on stage on her own.
She was known for playing piano, string bass, and harp.
Ashby luckily married a drummer named . His connections led them both to perform with great musicians such as Louis Armstrong.
She moved to Santa Monica, California and with the hook up of Bill Withers she continued a journey of success. She performed with famous celebrities such as Stevie Wonder and many others as a guest on stage and albums.
She implies during several interviews that her being a woman with a harp just never became popular. She played jazz, R&B, bebop, and some Hip Hop.
Amazing facts:
1 She played the Japanese instrument called the "koto" which originated in China. No where does it say how or where she learned this. (I know a black woman who played on first try...weird)
2 Jurassic 5 movie sampled her work on in their album "Feedback"

1. She played for labels such as
   Savoy, Cadet, Argo, Newjazz Atlantic, Jazzland, and Prestige.
2. She and her husband created a drama center called "The Ashby Players". Black actors from US and Canada would go there. Black man on Ghost Busters movie Ernie Hudson is famous now after participating.
3. Every article has her born Aug 6, but list the year as 1930 or 1932.
4. Her dad was a musician and her husband. She was actually able to perform with them and the greatest musicians like Stevie Wonder, Dionne Warwicke, Earth Wind & Fire Dianna Ross and Barry Manilow....wow
   Question:
   Was her instrument seen as for classical music only?
   What do you think? Comment below.
   
   This is my African harp called an "nkoni". I have the one for young people. Adults play the larger ones. Base made from pumpkins or gourds covered with leather. Fyi...I didn't know it was a harp. Looks like a guitar to me. Well you hold and play it face up with both hands. Harps are pumpkins, and guitars are trees. For more info just look up her name online or go to yuktube and listen to her heart moving work.
   Until next time!!
   Written by @sweetjoy
   Pic taken by @sweetjoy