Kenneth Ascher

Kenneth Lee " Ken " Ascher, Kenny Ascher ( born October 26, 1944 in Washington DC) is an American pianist and keyboardist in jazz and pop music arranger, lyricist and songwriter in the field of film music.

Ash began the age of five with the piano; in the 1950s, his family moved to Atlanta, where he had first club gigs at the age of 16 years. Until 1967 he studied classical piano and arrangement, he studied at Columbia University, where he received a Bachelor, a Master of Arts and Ph.D. acquired in composition. From 1962 to 1964 he taught music history at this university; From 1966, he worked primarily as a studio musician in New York, played 1966/67, also in the Woody Herman band in 1971 and briefly with Art Blakey, then with Marvin stem and in the Thad Jones / Mel Lewis Orchestra. In the Half Note, he accompanied musicians such as Zoot Sims, Ruby Braff, Anita O'Day, Maxine Sullivan and Jimmy Rushing.

Outside of jazz he became known in the 1970s as a studio musician, songwriter and arranger for John Lennon's albums Walls and Bridges, rock'n'roll and Yoko Ono's A Story; Asher also wrote the lyrics for Paul H. Williams ' songs from A Star Is Born, where he also served as musical coordinator and a Golden Globe Award was given for the best film music. He also worked with Paul H. Williams on the music for Phantom of the Paradise and acted as arranger on parts of Jim Steinman and Meat Loaf's Bat out of Hell with production.

Ash was also involved as a songwriter on numerous songs for the Muppet Show, which he co-wrote with the singer-songwriter and actor Paul H. Williams, like "The Rainbow Connection " sung by Kermit the Frog in the Muppet Movie film, for the they 1980 Oscar / Best Film Music Award nomination received. Ash is next active as a keyboard player in the Birdland Big Band, the house band of the Birdland in New York City.

Ash also worked with Maynard Ferguson, Billy Joel ( Turnstiles, 1976), Earl Klugh, Jane Monheit and James Taylor.

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