Ashley was born in Monto where his parents Harold and Janice Cook had a dairy farm south of Mulgildie. From a very young age Ashley admired Slim Dusty and was brought up with his music as his parents always listened to his records.
Ashley started playing guitar when he was ten and had become a member of the Biloela Country Music Club. Ashley started competing in numerous festivals as a junior at the age of thirteen.
After winning a few places in festivals, Ashley decided to give competition away, at eighteen, when work commitments took over.
Ashley still kept up with his music however, by playing bass, rhythm guitar and singing in three local country bands.
In his early twenties he started work at Callide Mine in Biloela where he now operates one of the biggest draglines in Australia.
Ashley, and his wife Toni (nee Britten) reside on a cattle property south of Thangool with the their three children Kimberley, Scott and Chloe. "It's a good life . . . raising your family in the fresh air and mustering the cattle on horses (which the kids love)."
Ashley and his family continue to travel to various Country Music Festivals where his three children compete. These trips have not only seen the family pick up a swag of awards, it has also enabled the Ashley, Toni and their children to meet with people and form good friendships along the way.
In 2003 Ashley was a grand finalist in the Australian Bush Balladeer Star Quest and in 2004 Ashley was runner-up in the same competition.
While in Tamworth in 2003, Ashley was lucky enough to be noticed by Lindsay Butler.
Later that year, Lindsay offered Ashley a wonderful opportunity to record a song on the tribute album to the King of Country Music, Slim Dusty, "The Music Lives On".
Ashley felt honoured to be given a chance to sing one of the Slim songs written by Stan Coster.
Ashley received outstanding feedback from the song "The Battle With The Roan", so he decided to have a go at producing a CD of his own.
In arranging the recording of his debut album, Ashley had the opportunity to use songs given to him by some of the great song writers. The album contains various bush ballads with four covers and eight originals. His debut album was called "Cattle Dust and Leather".
Since then, Ashley has gone on to recently release his second album "Beneath The Queensland Moon".