Larry Ashby

Larry is a classically trained pianist, who began piano lessons at 5 years old. He started his first band at 13 with his sister and some neighborhood kids. At 15, Larry was playing concerts with his Christian rock band “Solid Faith” at various youth camps, rallies, and churches in Southern Ca. Larry graduated from high school in 1981 and went on to study piano composition at the University of Redlands. By the time Larry was 20 he was playing with a variety of bands from Orange County Ca. One band of
note was "Local Colour" featuring standout vocalist Brooke Wilkes. Local Colour, best described as "bubble gum meets metal," had a unique 80's sound. The band built up a tremendous following and was able to hold their own on Friday and Saturday nights on the Sunset Strip in Hollywood. Local Colour began opening shows for some late 1980's national touring acts including "The Knack" and "Burning Sensations."
And like so many musicians' storie's go...Larry dropped out of college and pursued his music career full time.
In the mid-80’s, Larry became involved in a small project studio with a friend, and gained valuable recording studio experience, particularly as a studio musician. Larry has performed as a session keyboardist or pre-production midi programmer for a variety of record labels and artists Including Suicidal Tendencies and Joe Satriani. He co-produced a project with Los Angeles DJ Victor Cedeno for Def-Jam Records, and Co-wrote a song with Victor called “Baby Now,” for a popular 80's girl trio. Larry has written countless music cues for many “never to be seen by the general public” corporate videos, Larry co-wrote "Raining down in Dallas,"
an independent country radio chart #1 song, with country artist Rich Allen. Over Larrys music career, he has played with multiple bands, multiple styles, and multiple volume levels.
In 1996, Larry decided he was through with music. Larry began taking night classes at a local college. Larry became very interested in health sciences. He completed all the prerequisites to enter nursing school. Larry entered nursing school and became an RN in 2000. In 2001 he earned his Bachelors of Science in Nursing. With his music career fading farther and farther behind him, Larry entered anesthesia school in 2005 to become a CRNA. It was at this time that some strange things started to
happen to Larry. While totally engulfed with studying for Fall semester finals, Larry began to hear a new song in his head….a very calming quiet melody. This new melody began to grow and grow over the coming days…all while studying at the highest level of mental intensity possible. By the completion of finals week, Larry bought some music software, and recorded “If I could,” the song that was written in his head while studying. At the end of the Christmas break, Larry once again packed up all of his keyboard gear and put it out of mind. Not a note was played during the Spring semester until……Finals. A new melody began playing through Larry’s head the very day he started studying for Spring Finals. “A new day” was recorded 2 hours after Larry’s last final exam. And that would literally be Larry’s last final exam. He decided that music is his calling, not anesthesia. Larry currently works as a critical care nurse, is composing music for his second CD, as well as a Christmas CD, and plays keyboards at his local church.