Bio

Born in Skegness into a musical and dance family, Ashley Walker followed in the footsteps of his father and grandfather by pursuing a career in music. At the age of 12, Ashley chose the bass guitar and began taking lessons shortly before his 13th birthday. It wasn’t long before he fell in love with the instrument and made the decision to pursue music professionally.

Over the following years, Ashley developed his craft through a diverse range of musical experiences, performing with youth orchestras, theatre productions and regularly deputising in rehearsals with his father’s Big Band. One of his proudest early achievements came in 2016, when he performed at the Music for Youth Festival at London’s Royal Albert Hall. He would go on to return to the prestigious venue twice more, performing with the Boston Youth Jazz Orchestra and later with his own trio, The Ashley Walker Project, showcasing three original compositions.

At just 17, Ashley turned professional, beginning his career with The Grimsby Auditorium before joining the house band at Club Tropicana as a bass player and vocalist for their summer season. After two years, he fulfilled a lifelong ambition to work at sea, working as a musician aboard cruise ships, first with Fred. Olsen, Saga and P&O cruises. He spent the next two years performing internationally and gaining invaluable experience as a professional musician.

Since leaving the cruise industry in 2023, Ashley has established himself as a versatile and in-demand performer, regularly working across theatre, live music and tribute productions. His credits include shows such as A Vision of Elvis, The Greatest Star, Queen of the Night and What’s Love Got to Do with It.

Ashley has also had the privilege of performing twice at Blackpool’s Northern Soul Festival, providing bass for acclaimed artists including Patti Austin, PP Arnold and Bettye LaVette. He regularly performs alongside renowned saxophonist and session musician Snake Davis as part of his Classic Sax Solo shows.

In 2025, Ashley joined progressive rock band The Mentulls, adding another dimension to his career as a live performer. Since joining the band, he has enjoyed performing at festivals across the UK, including Upton Blues Festival and A New Day Festival, sharing his passion for progressive and contemporary rock with audiences at some of the country’s established live music events.

Alongside his career as a performer, Ashley is an accomplished songwriter and recording artist. He began writing original music at the age of 16 and, during the 2021 COVID-19 lockdown, wrote and recorded his debut album, Straight Talker. Following its release, Ashley continued to develop his own sound, releasing his second album, Weekend Vintage, in 2025. The album has since received regular airplay on BBC radio.

With a career spanning theatre, live performance, cruise entertainment, original music and collaborations with internationally recognised artists, Ashley Walker continues to build a reputation as a versatile, experienced and passionate professional musician.