Background
Ashton was born in Blackpool, Lancashire.
Ashton was born in Blackpool, Lancashire.
From 1955-1957 he was educated at Rossall School which soon developed into a career in the Royal Air Force doing National Service, before he then went to Oxford University in 1957, where he first began playing jazz professionally at functions and competitions, founding the Oxford University Big Band.
On leaving university in 1960, he went to France and worked as a professional musician in the American army bases for about nine months. Returning to London, he did supply teaching, mostly French, and started to join various blues bands. After working with Red Bludd’s Bluesicians, he founded what became NYJO with Pat Evans in 1965.
Ashton is highly regarded as an indefatigable promoter of British jazz talent, by organising tours, producing recordings, encouraging established players to collaborate with the band and publishing the works of young jazz composers.
He was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (Administration Member of the Order of the British Empire) for services to jazz in 1978 and Officer of the Order of the British Empire (Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) in the 2010 Birthday Honours.