 He played in a jazz trio, The Tony Ashton Trio with drummer John Laidlaw and bass player Pete Shelton in 1961 and 1962 at the Picador Club in Blackpool.Although his work began during the Beatles era, his roots lay firmly in soul, jazz and the blues.After playing with various Blackpool bands, Ashton was invited to join the Liverpool group The Remo Four as organist and vocalist.