MUSICIAN

Dorothy Ashby

1932 - 1986

Photo of Dorothy Ashby

Icon of person Dorothy Ashby

Dorothy Jeanne Thompson (August 6, 1932 – April 13, 1986), better known as Dorothy Ashby, was an American jazz harpist, singer and composer. Hailed as one of the most "unjustly under loved jazz greats of the 1950s" and the "most accomplished modern jazz harpist," Ashby established the harp as an improvising jazz instrument, beyond earlier use as a novelty or background orchestral instrument, proving the harp could play bebop as adeptly as the instruments commonly associated with jazz, such as the saxophone or piano. Ashby had to overcome many obstacles during the pursuit of her career. Read more on Wikipedia

Since 2007, the English Wikipedia page of Dorothy Ashby has received more than 307,455 page views. Her biography is available in 15 different languages on Wikipedia. Dorothy Ashby is the 2,292nd most popular musician, the 12,196th most popular biography from United States and the 928th most popular American Musician.

Memorability Metrics

  • 310k

    Page Views (PV)

  • 40.78

    Historical Popularity Index (HPI)

  • 15

    Languages Editions (L)

  • 2.27

    Effective Languages (L*)

  • 3.02

    Coefficient of Variation (CV)

Among MUSICIANS

Among musicians, Dorothy Ashby ranks 2,292 out of 3,175. Before her are Kim Thayil, David Darling, Zedd, Christian Lindberg, Rui Veloso, and Eicca Toppinen. After her are Mike Bordin, Stuart Hamm, Macy Gray, Mick Harvey, Steve Khan, and Tina Brooks.

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Contemporaries

Among people born in 1932, Dorothy Ashby ranks 538. Before her are Michael McClure, Edward Egan, Shirley Cawley, Duke Pearson, Udupi Ramachandra Rao, and Clyde McPhatter. After her are Tina Brooks, Jack Smith, Kurt Schmid, Aladár Kovácsi, Charlie Rich, and Bob McGrath. Among people deceased in 1986, Dorothy Ashby ranks 291. Before her are Edwin Graves, Howard Da Silva, Rudy Vallée, Robert Helpmann, Dinny Pails, and Hank Greenberg. After her are Anna Neagle, Bessie Head, Richard van der Riet Woolley, Romeo Rivers, Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, and Paul Frees.

Others Born in 1932

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Others Deceased in 1986

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In United States

Among people born in United States, Dorothy Ashby ranks 12,196 out of 20,380. Before her are Larry Parks (1914), Deborah Ann Woll (1985), Robert Stangland (1881), Phil LaMarr (1967), Meagen Fay (1957), and Richard Hofstadter (1916). After her are Mike James (1990), Ralph Lewis (1872), Martha Hudson (1939), Derek Jeter (1974), Rosanne Cash (1955), and Cara Williams (1925).

Others born in United States

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Among MUSICIANS In United States

Among musicians born in United States, Dorothy Ashby ranks 928. Before her are André 3000 (1975), Michael Romeo (1968), Art Taylor (1929), Erich Kunzel (1935), Kim Thayil (1960), and David Darling (1941). After her are Mike Bordin (1962), Stuart Hamm (1960), Macy Gray (1967), Steve Khan (1947), Tina Brooks (1932), and Natalie Merchant (1963).

American born Musicians

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