Ashley Hutchings
| Ashley Hutchings MBE |
|
|---|---|
Hutchings with Fairport Convention; August 2007
Photo: Brian Marks |
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Ashley Steven Hutchings |
| Born |
26 January 1945 Southgate, England |
| Genres | Folk, Electric folk |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter, arranger, bandleader, author, producer |
| Years active | 1964– |
| Associated acts | Albion Band, Fairport Convention, Rainbow Chasers, Steeleye Span |
| Website | www |
Ashley Stephen Hutchings, MBE (born 26 January 1945) is an English bassist, vocalist, songwriter, arranger, band leader, writer and record producer. He was a founding member of three of the most noteworthy English folk-rock bands in the history of the genre: Fairport Convention, Steeleye Span and The Albion Band. Hutchings has overseen numerous other projects, including records and live theatre, and has collaborated on film and television projects.
Hutchings was born in Southgate, England, but moved to Muswell Hill while still a child. As a teenager he became involved in the skiffle and blues movements and formed several groups, including 'Dr K's Blues Band' in 1964. He met guitarist Simon Nicol in 1966 when they both played in the 'Ethnic Shuffle Orchestra'. They rehearsed on the floor above Nicol's father's medical practice in a house called "Fairport" and lent its name to the group they formed together as Fairport Convention in 1967 with Richard Thompson, which soon included Martin Lamble, Judy Dyble and Iain Matthews.
Hutchings played on the band's first four albums. The first three, Fairport Convention (1968), What We Did on Our Holidays (1969) and Unhalfbricking (1969), largely consisted of American singer/songwriter material and original songs in a similar style. Hutchings' restrained but powerful bass style is one of the characteristics of the band in this period. The focus of the band changed with the introduction of Dave Swarbrick into the line up, who brought a virtuosity on the fiddle and a wealth of traditional tunes. This prompted Hutchings to carry out research in the English Folk Dance & Song Society Library at Cecil Sharp House which resulted in the pioneering classic Liege and Lief (1969), seen by many as the foundation of a distinctively English folk rock known as electric folk. Hutchings was, however, increasingly unhappy with the direction of the band, as most members wanted to return to their older format. As a result, in 1969 he left to focus on more traditional projects.
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