Leigh Ashford
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1966 |
| Headquarters | Toronto , Canada |
| Products | Music albums, singles |
Leigh Ashford was a rock band originating from Toronto, Ontario, Canada, active between 1966 and 1974. Some of its members went on to establish the band Moxy in 1973.
History
Established in 1967, the original lineup consisted of guitarist Gord Waszek, drummer and vocalist Dave Cairns, bassist Joe Agnello, and keyboardist Newton Garwood. Early in their career, Leigh Ashford performed as opening acts for groups such as Vanilla Fudge. In 1969, percussionist and singer Glenn Brown became part of the ensemble, strengthening their sound. That same year, they supported notable bands like The Foundations and The Who at venues in Toronto. Under the guidance of producer Jack Richardson, they traveled to New York to record tracks; their single "Country Place" was issued on Nimbus 9, although the full album remained unreleased.
The band continued to perform regularly in Toronto's club scene until 1970. During this period, Bruno Weckerle replaced Garwood on keyboards; Craig Kaleal took over drumming duties, and vocalist Buzz Shearman joined the group. In August 1970, they appeared at the three-day Strawberry Fields Festival. The following year, Leigh Ashford recorded their first album, Kinfolk, at RCA studios in Toronto. The lead single "Dickens" attracted attention from US radio stations, which supported a subsequent tour across the United States. Despite this progress, ongoing personnel changes caused internal tensions.
By 1972, founding members Waszek and Agnello had left to pursue other musical ventures—Waszek joined Fludd, while Agnello became part of Grant Smith & The Power. Drummer Wally Cameron and bassist Doni Underhill also departed by 1974; Underhill later joined Fludd as well. Vocalist Shearman reassembled the band with guitarist Earl Johnson (formerly of King Biscuit Boy), Kim Fraser on bass, Terry Juric also on bass, and Bill Wade from Outlaw Music on drums. This lineup transitioned into the heavier rock group Moxy by late 1974.
In 1997, Pacemaker Records issued a CD re-release of Kinfolk.
Career
In December 1970, Leigh Ashford released a single through the Revolver label, which was managed by Mort Ross. Revolver had a distribution agreement with RCA, representing artists including Leigh Ashford, Chimo!, Motherlode, and Jam Jar.
Members
- Dave Cairns – drums, vocals
- Joe Agnello – bass
- Newton Garwood – keyboards
- Gord Waszek – guitar
- Glenn Brown – vocals
- Wally Cameron – drums (succeeded Cairns in 1970)
- Lance Wright – drums (followed Cameron)
- Craig Kaleal – drums (replaced Wright)
- Buzz Shearman – vocals (took over from Brown in 1971)
- Bruno Weckerle – keyboards (replaced Garwood)
- Don Elliot – bass (succeeded Agnello)
- Doni Underhill – bass (followed Elliot)
- Kim Fraser – bass (replaced Underhill in 1973)
- Earl Johnson – guitar (took over from Waszek in 1973)
- Terry Juric – bass (replaced Fraser in 1974)
- Bill Wade – drums (succeeded Kaleal in 1973)
Leigh Ashford / Moxy Timeline
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id:v value:red legend:Vocals id:g value:green legend:Guitars id:k value:purple legend:Keyboards id:b value:blue legend:Bass id:d value:orange legend:Drums id:a value:black legend:Studio_releases id:bars value:gray(0.95)
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width:11 textcolor:black align:left bar:LEIGH ASHFORD from:start till:15/11/1974 color:tan1 bar:MOXY from:15/11/1974 till:16/06/1983 color:tan1 bar:MOXY from:01/07/1999 till:end color:tan1 bar:Gord Waszek from:start till:01/07/1973 color:g bar:Earl Johnson from:01/07/1973 till:01/07/1978 color:g bar:Earl Johnson from:01/07/1999 till:end color:g bar:Buddy Caine from:01/07/1975 till:16/06/1983 color:g bar:Buddy Caine from:01/07/1999 till:01/12/2008 color:g bar:Woody West from:01/07/1978 till:01/11/1979 color:g bar:Doug McAskill from:01/11/1979 till:16/06/1983 color:g bar:Rob Robbins from:01/07/2013 till:end color:g bar:Glenn Brown from:01/07/1969 till:01/07/1970 color:v bar:Buzz Shearman from:01/07/1970 till:01/11/1977 color:v bar:Buzz Shearman from:01/11/1979 till:16/06/1983 color:v bar:Michael Rynoski from:01/11/1977 till:01/11/1979 color:v bar:Brian Maxim from:01/07/1999 till:01/07/2003 color:v bar:Alex Machin from:01/07/2003 till:01/07/2008 color:v bar:Russell Graham from:01/07/2008 till:01/07/2013 color:v bar:Nick Walsh from:01/07/2013 till:end color:v bar:Newton Garwood from:start till:01/07/1970 color:k bar:Bruno Weckerle from:01/07/1970 till:01/07/1973 color:k bar:Joe Agnello from:start till:01/04/1972 color:b bar:Don Elliott from:01/04/1972 till:01/09/1972 color:b bar:Doni Underhill from:01/09/1972 till:01/01/1973 color:b bar:Kim Fraser from:01/01/1973 till:15/11/1974 color:b bar:Terry Juric from:15/11/1974 till:16/06/1983 color:b bar:JIm Samson from :01 / 07 / 1999 till : 01 / 07 / 2013 color : b bar : Andy   ; Narsingh   ;from : 01 / 07 / 2013 till : 01 / 07 / 2015 color : b bar : Rod   ; Albon   ;from : 01 / 07 / 2015 till : end color : b bar:Gus   ; Indovina   ;from : start_till:end color : b bar : Dave   ; Cairns   ;from : start till:end color : d
</timeline>
Singles
| Artist | Title | Catalogue Number | Release Year | Additional Information # |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leigh Ashford | "Country Place" / "Ev'rything Is Easy" | Nimbus 75-1026 | 1969/1970 | (vocals by David Cairns) |
| Leigh Ashford | "Dickens" / "Lee Oompa Kum Pah Pah" | Revolver 75-1040 | 1971 | (vocals performed by Buzz Shearman) (peaked at #27 in Canada) REVS-0010 |
| Leigh Ashford | "Never Give Myself" / "County Country" | Revolver 75-1054 | 1971 | (Buzz Shearman on vocals) REVS-0012 |
| Leigh Ashford | "Never Give Myself" / "Good Day" | Revolver 74-0526 | 1971 | (featuring Buzz Shearman as vocalist) |
| Leigh Ashford | "The Country's Got a Soul All Its Own" / "Workin' All Day" | Hopi PI 1001 | 1972 | (with Buzz Shearman providing vocals) |
Albums
- Kinfolk - Revolver– LSP-4520, released in 1971
- "Dickens" – 2:40 (Sherman, Waszek)
- "Mighty Fine Cookin'" – 3:15 (Waszek)
- "Never Give Myself" – 4:27 (Waszek)
- "Juicy Lucy" – 3:25 (Waszek)
- "County Country" – 3:24 (Sherman, Waszek)
- "Good Day" – 4:00 (Agnelio, Kaleal, Shearman)
- "Lee Oompa Kum Pah Pah" – 3:10 (Agnello, Shearman, Waszek)
- "Lady" – 4:44 (Sherman, Waszek)
- "Sicawine, Part 1" – 3:27 (Sherman, Waszek, Weckerle, Agnello)
- "Sicawine, Part 2" – 6:39 (Sherman, Waszek, Weckerle, Agnello)
- "Workin' All Day" – 2:05 (Sherman) – Included as a bonus track on the 1997 CD reissue
- "The Country's Got a Soul" – 3:14 (Sherman) – Bonus track on the 1997 reissued CD