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Ash Wednesday
United States, Illinois, Peoria
Hard Rock Metal Classic Rock

About Ash Wednesday



Randolph Robinson (RGRGUITAR) began playing the Guitar in Chicago in 1965. The lack of formal music lessons led him to learn to play by listening to 45s on the family stereo. Soon after he got his first Guitar he formed a group with two brothers who lived down the street. They quickly learned a few songs and rehearsed them constantly. That Summer, there was a block party on the street where they lived and they were asked to play. "We knew all of three songs and we jumped right up on that stage and played them. I then asked where was the money we were promised. Our first show earned us three dollars." Randolph Robinson has come a long way since then. After playing in several local R&B groups such as THE MAGIC FOUR & THE MANTATIONS, LEONARD WOODS & THE UNIQUES, Robinson struck out on his own. Deciding to play something different, he formed his own band (STONEHEAD) and was probably one of the inventors of Heavy Metal (Remember this was very early 70's). "We started rehearsing in my fathers garage, just jamming and the sound was intense. We had never heard of bands such as BLACK SABBATH, DEEP PURPLE, OR URIAH HEEP." But after writing an albums worth of songs he discovered these bands, "and we sounded so much like them!"
After a major lineup change we became ASH WEDNESDAY !!
So much has happened since those times more than thirty years ago.
Now I feel I have paid all my dues, played with bands and covered hundreds of songs.
Now, Its 2012 and I've decided to reform my vision of Rock, and have put ASH WEDNESDAY back together again. Original Drummer KEVIN PRICE was to be a part of this, but due to his having his foot amputated could not rejoin.
The Original Material will be reworked and recorded.
ALL three albums worth.
I'm putting a lot of work on the new guys but they are 100% behind me in this project and are adding their own "spice" to the music.

Jayson Alt began his drum journey in 1989 at age 13 with an eighth grade graduation gift of drum lessons. From there, marching band, jazz band, and eventually joining up with various local bands over the years (Homemade Wine, Four & Twenty Blackbirds, Electric Mind Mob to name a few). Influences: "When I think of my influences now, that I'm older, it's anyone that unlocks the soul of their instrument. Of course guys like Ringo, Mick Fleetwood were important, but even the bands that I've never seen before when you don't know that drummers name, and he blows you away...that's my influence, too. My life has been very interesting because of drums. If it weren't for drums, I would not know 90% of the people I do, including my son. And here I found a new adventure with Randy and JoAnn. Randy has opened for big names in the past, like Aretha, and I've heard the hit records he's played on and I'm thankful to be a part of his comeback to the music scene. And JoAnn is a monster bass player. I knew her years ago because she was in the circle of bands that I hung out with and she's amazing. It was a nice coincidence to find out she was involved with Ash Wednesday. I'm very excited about this combination of players. The songs are coming together, we're getting to know each other, and it's getting tight."

In 1982, JoAnn Draper became aware of bands like Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, The Doors, Yes, Rush, and Grateful Dead through the unlikely source of MTV's 'Closet Classics'. She liked what she heard, relieved that there was more to life than typical bubble gum '80's music'. On her 13th birthday, she was given an acoustic guitar, that she learned to play only to have someone 'borrow' and sell it without her knowledge. For her 14th birthday, JoAnn received a bass guitar. The only stipulation was that she never stop playing. She hasn't. The bass has a name---"Gertrude". And it has rocked ever since. JoAnn also played in a band by the name "The Way" with Randy years ago and the friendship and musical relationship has lasted throughout the years. She has a resume of local bands that include Kynetyk, and Sojourner. Now, as resident bass player of Ash Wednesday, she gives them the solid foundation needed to make this three-piece outfit sound full and rich.

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