Dan Ashley – Sing Me a Story, Tell Me the News
Veteran news anchor and rock singer-songwriter Dan Ashley shares how journalism, music, and philanthropy have intertwined in a truly remarkable career. You’re known both as a respected ABC7 news anchor and as a rock-fronting singer-songwriter. Can you share how your childhood experiences shaped those dual passions? I am so fortunate to be able to pursue lifelong passions professionally. As a journalist, I benefited enormously from growing up in an academic household as the son of a college professor of public health and as Dean of the school. In high school and college, I was on the debate team, which gave me invaluable experience in organising thoughts and speaking in public. That was a huge help as I began working on television and radio as a reporter. As a songwriter, my decades as a journalist gave me a unique perspective as a lyricist that has allowed me to tell stories in song. Having been around music for my entire childhood, it gave me love and appreciation for that creative art form. What inspired the pivot back to music after decades in journalism? Music has always been a part of my life but, until the last twenty years or so, mostly as a fan. Once I started taking singing lessons, with no ambition to do it professionally, a spark turned into a flame and I was overtaken by the love of, not just enjoying music, but creating and performing it. With singles like “Small Town Nights” and “What Really Matters,” you tap into nostalgia and perspective. What do these songs mean to you personally? I grew up in a small college town, Chapel Hill, NC, so I know a lot about that kind of life. For me, it was wonderful- filled with climbing trees, playing kick-the-can in the street, and spending summer days outdoors. We didn’t have computers or video games, and I am so grateful that we didn’t. “Small Town Nights” reflects that experience but, more than nostalgic, it’s aspirational. In a very complicated and distracting age that we live in, I wanted to write a song about the joy of simple pleasures absent all the technology. “What Really Matters” is chronical in many respects of my experiences as a journalist for all these years. The things I’ve seen as a reporter and an observation that, in so many instances, good people come forward to help in bad situations. You’ve opened for legends like REO Speedwagon, Melissa Etheridge, Patti LaBelle, Joan Jett, and more. Which of these experiences had the most lasting impact? I have been so fortunate to share the stage with some incredible acts over the years- it’s a privilege and a whole lot of fun. They are all memorable in their own way, but I have to say that opening for REO Speedwagon was particularly special because all the guys in the band were so nice, gracious, and supportive. I’ve never had a bad experience supporting headliners, but they were especially delightful. How does your background in journalism inform your songwriting? Great question! The parallels are truly striking. As a journalist, I am a story-teller in many respects and that is exactly my approach with songwriting. Legendary 60-Minutes creator and producer, Don Hewitt, used to always remind reporter to “tell me a story”. That is always my key focus when I am reporting on television and it’s the same core idea in my songs. Tell me, or in the case of music, sing me a story! Your band includes musicians like James Henry and Didier (Francois Bouvet). How did forming this ensemble enrich your musical vision, and what do they bring to your sound? I have the privilege of performing with some phenomenal musicians- players and singers who elevate everything we do. Whether it’s the amazing Bill Bentley- lead guitarist and my song co-writer, Billy “Shoe’s” Johnson on drums who toured with Santana, James Henry on percussion of Pablo Cruise, among others. My bandmates are amazing musicians and fantastic people. Angeline Saris on bass- she’s played with so many artists. Nate’ Soulsanger is an incredible singer in her own right, and I am so proud to have her on background along with my wonderful wife, Angela. Your music profits fund charities close to your heart. Why is philanthropy such an important part of your music career? As a television news anchor, I have been very fortunate to have a unique place in the community which give me a unique opportunity to be involved in different ways. Philanthropy has been a deeply meaningful and important part of the position I am so grateful to hold at ABC7. It was just a natural extension to use the band to support worthy causes whenever possible. What’s your songwriting process like and how do you balance honesty with narrative structure? Songwriting is such an interesting and challenging process. Sometimes a song will just hit me, and it flows out. “Lucky Stars”, for example, I wrote in maybe half an hour when I woke up in the middle of the night thinking about how lucky I am to have found my wife, Angela. Sometimes, it’s a lot more work. But it’s a really rewarding process. How it works with me varies, sometimes a subject matter comes to mind, and I work with that. Often, just the title of a song hits me and then I begin to build the story around what it’s about. Other times, it might be a riff I hear in my head that sparks an idea. One key is to try to keep the lyrical content as authentic as possible- not to do backflips trying to force a rhyme or idea into the song. Keep it as real as you can- what you really think and feel. What milestones or creative goals are you still chasing—whether it’s an album, specific venue, collaboration, or personal evolution? As a journalist and a musician, I’m always ready for the next challenge or adventure. I’ll have a second album out soon- the
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