Bringing the Banjo Beyond the Bluegrass

Photos by Sheri Oneal lthough Ashley Campbell carries the DNA of one of the most talented singers and instrumentalists in the history of American music, she did not aspire to be a musician when she was young.  The youngest daughter of country music legend Glen Campbell said, “My brothers Cal and Shannon where more into it than I was.  I started playing piano when I was 6 and guitar when I was 15.  I just did it for fun and I enjoyed it, but my brothers always knew that they wanted to go into music as a profession.  I wanted to go into acting and musical theater.” Ashley, who is now a highly accomplished and respected songwriter, singer, guitar player, and banjo player, was introduced to the banjo when she was asked to play one in a theater performance while attending Pepperdine University as a theater major.  She recalls, “I got into a play called The Kentucky Cycle and the director wanted authentic American folk music.  I was kind of known for