{Ashbury} Randy Davis started playing guitar full time in January 1977, playing lead guitar for a house band in southern Oklahoma. At the same time he joined a local rock band called Rigid Spur, which played all over Oklahoma and north Texas. In December of 1977, Rigid Spur broke up to form the band Ashbury South, a 4-piece dual lead guitar band with Randy as the front-man. Rob Davis joined the band in February 1978 as sound engineer and live show producer. Ashbury South introduced many people to AC/DC and Van Halen, by playing their music before they were known nationally. The band was know for it’s stage and light show, which rivaled any concert band playing at the time. The show included a custom built light show, build by Ashbury South’s electrician, pyro-technics and even follow spot light, even in night clubs. Ashbury South broke up in 1979. Randy then went to work for the musicians union in Texas, playing lead guitar for big name acts playing in the area. At the same time, Randy and Rob had a two-piece show that worked regularly, with Rob sharing guitar and vocal duties on stage. In May of 1980, we relocated to Tucson, Arizona playing the two piece show and putting another band together. The band Ashbury debuted at Tucson’s most famous night club, “The Night Train.” Ashbury won KDKB FM’s Battle of the Bands contest in 1980 in Phoenix. The band continued to tour the southwest through November 1982. Johnny Ray joined the band in January 1981, later becoming the drummer on the “Endless Skies” album. In December 1982 Randy decided it was time for he and his brother Rob to record an album of their own music. Randy and Rob had written songs together for years, so all they needed was a drummer for the project. The “Endless Skies” album was recorded in January and February of 1983. After the album’s release in June of 1983, Ashbury, complete with new band members, was back to work doing concerts and promoting the album, which was on sale at Tower Records nationwide. KSTM-FM radio Mesa/Phoenix, awarded Ashbury “Arizona Rock Album of the Year” in 1983. Ashbury won the award again in 1984 because they said it was the best Arizona album of 1984 as well. Ashbury also had a syndicated comic strip character called “Ashbury” in 26 newspapers in the west. The character was based on Randy’s stage persona.
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