Among other things, Ray Ashley is a student of music. He has been playing for many years as well. Ashley also spent quite a few years in the navy. As a Lieutenant, he nearly became a career sailor. However, fate had other plans for him. While attending a show by Southern Culture on the Skids, Ashley was brought up on stage to play maracas as an audience volunteer. Although he had been on stage before, it was not on a level like this. It was a life changing experience, and he knew from that point forward that the stage was the place for him. By 1993, Ashley had begun playing the Chapman Stick and was making a bit of a name for himself. Since then, he changed from the Stick to the Warr Guitar, and he records and performs with two groups, Three Hour Detour and Cinema Inferno. ~ Gary Hill, All Music Guide