Rick’s lifelong love affair with the piano began with very early conservatory lessons. In the 1960s and 70s his classical training merged with a love for gospel, classic rock, country and blues and produced a unique style of playing that has carried Rick into many years of playing with bands and gospel groups all over eastern North America.

A 40-year playing career has taken Rick from London, Ont. to Pattaya, Thailand, from The Air Canada Center and Massey Hall to The Grand Ole Opry and down many of the roads between. The abused pianos met early along the way provided his first incentive to learn the beautiful science involved in the tuning and maintenance of the piano.

In 1981 he began tuning and servicing pianos professionally, while continuing to play, write and record music. For seven years in the 80s and 90s he was the in-house tuner with Ledgley Pianos of London, Ontario, the Baldwin/Samick/Young Chang dealer at that time, and the reputation he’s built has allowed him to tune in most of the area’s most prestigious venues and for many performing artists over the years, including Bob Dylan, Roy Orbison, Garth Hudson (of The Band), Ricky Skaggs, the Bare Naked Ladies, Hagood Hardy, Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Loreena McKennitt, Burton Cummings……..and many others.

He continues to tune regularly for many piano teachers, including:

• Elizabeth Corbett and Karen Fisher of London
• Margaret Walsh of Mt Brydges
• Genevieve Albert of St. Thomas

And institutions such as The Delta Armouries Hotel, North Park Community Church, St. Paul’s Church (Tilsonburg), Faith Church of St. Thomas…

In addition to the hundreds of pianos per year that he tunes, Richard Ash is a published songwriter and continues to have music recorded by various gospel artists in the U.S. and Canada. He’s also served as Music/Worship Director at Highview Community Church of Kitchener, London Gospel Temple, Bethel Baptist/Strathroy and several other churches over the last 25 years and has worked with choral groups, string ensembles, rock bands…. and almost any other musical group you can imagine.

He thanks his wife and four children for their patience with his busy schedule, God for blessing him with it (and with them) – and his many wonderful clients for their support and friendship.