Ashford, Leigh

Websites:  No
Origin: Toronto, Ontario
Biography:

This original lineup (shown) was extraordinary and was initially managed by Bill Huard of Ugly Ducklings fame. There were a number of top-drawer players that passed thru' this band over some short years..... 'Buzz' Shearman comes to mind. The poster below is from their 1971 High Park Free Concert performance in Toronto.

Leigh Ashford was a Canadian rock group formed in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and which existed between 1966 and 1974.

History
The group was formed in 1967 by, the guitarist Gord Waszek, drummer Dave Cairns, bassist Joe Agnello and keyboard player Newton Garwood. With Garwood as keyboardist, the band opened for The Vanilla Fudge. Later on in 1969 a lead singer was added for more dynamics...Percussionist Vocalist Glenn Brown was recruited from another iconic Toronto band, A Passing Fancy ...During his stint in the band Leigh Ashford opened for the bands The Foundations at the Electric Circus in Toronto and The Who at the Rockpile in 1969. record producer Jack Richardson took the band to New York to record. A single "Country Place" was released on the Nimbus 9 label, but the album itself was never issued.

The band kept busy in the clubs in Toronto until 1970. Garwood was replaced by keyboardist Bruno Weckerle, Craig Kaleal (of The Witness) became the permanent drummer and a new vocalist Buzz Shearman[1] was added. The band was invited to appear at three day long, Strawberry Fields Festival, in August 1970. In 1971, they recorded their debut album called Kinfolk in the RCA studios in Toronto. Things were looking good for the band with a US tour. In addition, the album's first single, "Dickens", began gaining attention of US radio stations. However creative differences due to member turn-over rate was breaking the band up. It fell to singer Buzz Shearman to pick up the pieces and soldier on in 1972, when founding members Gord Waszek joining Fludd and Joe Agnello joining Grant Smith & The Power. Wally Cameron and Doni Underhill also decided to leave in 1974, with Underhill also joining Fludd. Shearman recruited Earl Johnson (guitar, and former member of the King Biscuit Boy band), Kim Fraser, then Terry Juric (bass guitar) and Bill Wade (drums), the latter being former members of Outlaw Music. This group ultimately evolved with a harder sound into the hit recording act Moxy in late 1974.

In 1997, Pacemaker Records re-issued the sole Leigh Ashford album, Kinfolk, on CD.

Career
In December, 1970, the group had their single out on the Revolver label that was headed by Mort Ross. A distribution deal between Revolver and RCA had been signed. In addition to Leigh Ashford, other acts included Chimo!, Motherlode and Jam Jar.