Dorothy Ashby's reputation as the world's premier studio harpist was securely established in 1976 by her stellar solo harp performance on the song "If It's Magic" from the 1976 classic album "Songs In The Key of Life" by Stevie Wonder on Motown Records.
Dorothy Ashby's precise and intricate solo harp playing is highlighted on the song "If It's Magic" from the classic album, Stevie Wonder's 1976 Motown Tamla LP "Songs In The Key of Life".
This landmark musical production was a two record album set plus an extended play 45 rpm single. The release of "Songs In the Key of Life" remains one of, if not the most significant and successful recording projects in Stevie Wonder's stellar career.
This album was hugely significant to the career of Dorothy Ashby because she is the sole musical accompaniment to Wonder's singing and harmonica playing on the beautiful song "If It's Magic". Ashby's sensitive and intricate positioning of individual notes on the harp supported and accentuated Wonder's beautiful vocals on this song. This musical duet was accomplished, (according to private papers written by Dorothy Ashby) after Stevie Wonder auditioned several harpists (including Alice Coltrane) for the assignment.
Stevie Wonder has recently said onstage in concert that of all the harp players that auditioned to play on his "Songs In Dorothy Ashby was the best. It has been suggested that Dorothy Ashby got the nod to play on the "If It's Magic" song only because Alice Coltrane was not available but according to both Stevie Wonder and Dorothy Ashby, this was not the case. Private notes written by Dorothy herself indicated that her selection to play on the song was the end result of a auditioning process that included Alice Coltrane but in the end, Alice Coltrane was not selected. Listening to the song I am much more inclined to believe Ashby's story because it is well known that Stevie Wonder is a very exacting musician who insists on the best from his fellow musicians. Stevie Wonder took almost two years to record this album. Wonder took his time to produce the best album of his career so it stands to reason that he would have waited for his first choice in terms of a harpist. Especially for a song that highlighted to skills of the harpist as much as the song "If It's Magic".
Stevie Wonder was producing the best albums of his career and artists were lining up to work with him at this time. The most widely held story is that Bill Withers (who had been recently produced by Dorothy Ashby) , personally recommended Dorothy Ashby to Stevie Wonder.
On the song "If It's Magic" Dorothy Ashby's signature style of individual and distinct note playing on the harp is evident. Alice Coltrane was much more inclined to strum the harp continuously when playing and that would not have worked as well in this song.
Dorothy Ashby's poignant singular harp playing along side Stevie Wonder's singing on "If It's Magic" was a high point on the album. "If It's Magic" was played on many stations nationwide and the attention that Dorothy Ashby received was probably the most that she had ever received ever.
One thing is certain, Dorothy Ashby was very much in demand as a session musician after the release of this album. In fact, Dorothy Ashby played harp on many records released on Motown Records that have not yet been documented.
Dorothy Ashby's reputation as the world's premier studio harpist was securely established in 1976 by her stellar solo harp performance on the song "If It's Magic" from the 1976 classic album "Songs In The Key of Life" by Stevie Wonder on Motown Records.
Dorothy Ashby's precise and intricate solo harp playing is highlighted on the song "If It's Magic" from the classic album, Stevie Wonder's 1976 Motown Tamla LP "Songs In The Key of Life".
This landmark musical production was a two record album set plus an extended play 45 rpm single. The release of "Songs In the Key of Life" remains one of, if not the most significant and successful recording projects in Stevie Wonder's stellar career.
This album was hugely significant to the career of Dorothy Ashby because she is the sole musical accompaniment to Wonder's singing and harmonica playing on the beautiful song "If It's Magic". Ashby's sensitive and intricate positioning of individual notes on the harp supported and accentuated Wonder's beautiful vocals on this song. This musical duet was accomplished, (according to private papers written by Dorothy Ashby) after Stevie Wonder auditioned several harpists (including Alice Coltrane) for the assignment.
Stevie Wonder has recently said onstage in concert that of all the harp players that auditioned to play on his "Songs In Dorothy Ashby was the best. It has been suggested that Dorothy Ashby got the nod to play on the "If It's Magic" song only because Alice Coltrane was not available but according to both Stevie Wonder and Dorothy Ashby, this was not the case. Private notes written by Dorothy herself indicated that her selection to play on the song was the end result of a auditioning process that included Alice Coltrane but in the end, Alice Coltrane was not selected. Listening to the song I am much more inclined to believe Ashby's story because it is well known that Stevie Wonder is a very exacting musician who insists on the best from his fellow musicians. Stevie Wonder took almost two years to record this album. Wonder took his time to produce the best album of his career so it stands to reason that he would have waited for his first choice in terms of a harpist. Especially for a song that highlighted to skills of the harpist as much as the song "If It's Magic".
Stevie Wonder was producing the best albums of his career and artists were lining up to work with him at this time. The most widely held story is that Bill Withers (who had been recently produced by Dorothy Ashby) , personally recommended Dorothy Ashby to Stevie Wonder.
On the song "If It's Magic" Dorothy Ashby's signature style of individual and distinct note playing on the harp is evident. Alice Coltrane was much more inclined to strum the harp continuously when playing and that would not have worked as well in this song.
Dorothy Ashby's poignant singular harp playing along side Stevie Wonder's singing on "If It's Magic" was a high point on the album. "If It's Magic" was played on many stations nationwide and the attention that Dorothy Ashby received was probably the most that she had ever received ever.
One thing is certain, Dorothy Ashby was very much in demand as a session musician after the release of this album. In fact, Dorothy Ashby played harp on many records released on Motown Records that have not yet been documented.