Ashley Davis
Be True to Yourself and You will Never Fail
Lawrence High School
1994
Inducted
2019
New music springing from ancient roots. ~Meredith Vieira speaking of Ashley on her Today Show appearance.
Ashley Davis is an international recording artist and songwriter whose unique style and blending of genres has drawn acclaim throughout the music world. She has performed on NBC's Today Show and prominent venues and festivals throughout the U.S. and abroad. As both writer and performer she has collaborated with stars such as Paddy Moloney, Cathy Jordan, Sara Watkins, Eileen Ivers & Moya Brennan. Her sixth album "Burning Down" was recently released in the autumn of2019 to international acclaim.
Raised in Lawrence, KS, her singing has garnered much attention from her peers and critics, most recently it was her writing and arranging that caught. In 2010, Ashley was named one of the top most influential Irish-Americans under the age of 40. Her music is rooted in the Celtic tradition, but as a Kansas native, she also weaves bluegrass and folk influences into her music.
Ashley began performing live throughout the Midwest region at the age of 14. Four years later, she began her undergraduate study at Belmont University in Nashville. In addition to taking advantage of Belmont's renowned music program, Ashley studied literature from the Irish, British, and Latin traditions. She also discovered the rich worlds of Celtic music and culture and was often featured as a solo performer at many of Nashville's pubs and venues, including the famous songwriter haunt, The Bluebird Cafe where she lead many rounds.
Ashley then pursued a graduate degree from the Irish World Academy of Music & Dance at the University of Limerick. The next adventure for Ashley was a stint in Las Vegas where she was the soloist for the Las Vegas premier of Michael Flatley's Lord of the Dance, at the Venetian Hotel.
Since then, Ashley has bounced around from New York City; to her hometown of Lawrence, Kansas; to various other national and international destinations for performances or workshops. Of note was her 2006 journey to the Isle of Man, where she was an Artist in Residence. She captured and recorded the native Manx language, as well as the melodies and stories of the island.
Ashley recently signed a publishing deal with one of the world’s largest firms "Downtown Music" as one of their worldwide songwriters. She now resides with her husband Frank and Labrador Ralph, once again in Lawrence, KS.
Ashley Davis is a young woman with a beautiful voice and as much musicality as anyone could wish for. And on top of that she writes and sings with a confidence way beyond her years. I wish her all the best and I look forward to watching her music and her career develop. -Philip Glass, Composer