" I love my boots ! "
Originally from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Kate Ashby-Craft started off as a classical voice and theatre major in University but wanting to experience other kinds of music Ashby-Craft went on the road performing everything from country, rock to folk and blues and jazz touring parts of Canada and the U.S.A.
In the late 70´s Ashby-Craft recorded her first album called "The Many Faces Of". The first single "Situation Blue" received considerable airplay on Adult Contemporary radio stations.
During the 80´s Ashby-Craft won a province wide talent search in her home province of Nova Scotia. At that time she was performing Top 40 Country music so she recorded two country singles, both of which made the charts. Also at that time she co-wrote a song called "Was It Easy" which was number 11 for the year 1986.
In the 90´s wanting to pursue her song writing, Kate left the road and settled in the St. Marys, Ontario area. Kate's music is a fusion of her rock, blues, country, jazz and classical influences. Her powerful voice accentuates the often issue-oriented lyrics. In the fall of 1995 she released her debut CD, "The Heart and The Mind" which fit very nicely in the Country/Folk genre. The first single off the CD, "A Song For Lorian" was well received by radio and garnered airplay on numerous Adult Contemporary stations as well as the CBC and Campus radio. Out of 3,000 entries from twenty different countries "A Song For Lorian" received a certificate of merit for placing in the top 10 % in the 1997 International UNISONG song contest. This CD received Internet, community and commercial radio airplay around the world.
In May 2003, Kate started working with a radio promotion company out of Nashville and released the second single from her debut CD called " You're My Addiction ". She received commercial country radio airplay all across Canada, U.S.A. and Europe. This resulted in a nomination from American Country radio for the " Golden Microphone Award " as part of Airplay International's " King Eagle Music Awards" held in Nashville on September 27,2003.
In September 2006 Ashby-Craft released her second CD called "Love Is All There Is". This album is a concept album where all twelve songs explore a different dimension of love. Musically this album ventures into the Jazzy Pop genre. This CD received rave reviews and charted on several commercial radio stations across Canada.
In October 2007 Ashby-Craft was nominated for four music awards in the 2007 Toronto Exclusive Magazine Awards for all of Canada and won the award for Best Adult Contemporary Website.
In September 2008 Ashby-Craft accepted the role of June Carter Cash in the touring show "The Legend In Black" which is a tribute to the music of the late Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash. This show tours in both Canada and the USA.
In August 2009 Kate's CD "Love Is All There Is" was licensed to W.O.A. Records for all of India.
In September 2009, out of 6,000 entries, the song "You Are My Woman/You Are My Man" from the album "Love Is All There Is " was chosen as a semi-finalist in the prestigious UK Songwriting Contest.
The release of a three singles in 2012 by Kate was a culmination of performing the role of June Carter Cash. For the past several years Ashby-Craft has been performing this role in the musical tribute show "The Legend In Black" which is a tribute to the music of the late Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash. It is while performing this role that Ashby-Craft fell in love with Alternative Country music and decided she wanted to pursue that genre. Ashby-Craft therefore teamed up with legendary UK Record Producer Charles Foskett to produce three singles in this genre using the who's who in musicians.
From Guitar Player, Jerry Donahue (Fairport Convention, Elton John), Stand Up Bass, Malcolm Creese (Sting, Cleo Laine), Drums, Clive Bunker (Jethro Tull), Harmonica, Paul Jones (Manfred Man), Violin, Scarlet Rivera (Bob Dylan, Indigo Girls) and UK Singer/Songwriter Lauren Field on Back Up Vocals.
The first of the three songs "Keep On The Sunnyside" a Classic Country song is also Ashby-Craft's philosophy" No matter how dark things get...says Kate...there is always a bright side". The second song "Home Lights Shining" is an up tempo song about true love. The last song "Wonder Woman" is a powerful ballad that could be every woman's anthem.
In the Fall of 2015 Kate Ashby-Craft joined forces with the independent recording artist Caroline Burchill to form the duo "The Honeys CA"
With Kate on piano and vocals and Caroline on acoustic guitar and vocals they perform Inspirational Country / Folk music every thing from traditional to contemporary.
When you come to hear Kate and Caroline you will be taken on a musical journey through songs that make you laugh, songs to make you cry but mostly songs to inspire and uplift. Oh and be sure to bring along your singing voice as they love to throw in a couple of sing a longs.
Kate Ashby-Craft has been seen and heard on radio and various TV shows such as City TV's "Breakfast Television" Global TV's "Entertainment Desk" and CBC Radio's Ontario Morning. Kate has performed at such notable venues as the Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto, Waterloo's Festival Of Lights, Canada Day celebrations in London as well as the Songwriter's Association of Canada's Bluebird North in Toronto, The Canterbury Folk Festival in Ingersoll , The Stratford Festival of Canada and Stratford Summer Music Festival.
Kate lives in the country with her husband Mark, Angel the cat and lots of wild life.