Ashley, 1968.
vinyl condition: VG
Listen to WHILE YOUR LOVER SLEEPS.
Although Leon Ashley first performed on a local radio show (in Covington, Georgia) at age nine, he didn’t release his first single until age 22 (in 1960 on Goldband Records.) Unfortunately, the song or later releases on Imperial Records and Dot Records did not attract significant airplay.
Four years later, Ashley founded his own label Ashley Records. The label's releases proved more successful. LAURA (WHAT’S HE GOT THAT I AIN’T GOT) became a number one country in 1964, making him the first country music artist to write, record, release, distribute, and publish his own material.
He had several more hit singles soon afterward, including duets with his wife Margie Singleton. However, his chart success waned by 1969, and he shifted his focus to songwriting for other artists.