Asher Ettinger is a formally trained composer/arranger/copywriter/producer/artist manager and fine artist based in Toronto.
Asher’s music training began in his hometown of Montreal at Ecole De Musique Vincent D’Indy, studied music at McGill University and completed his BA (Music History-1975) at Carleton University. He was keyboardist and principal composer/arranger for the highly regarded jazz rock ensemble, Wintergarden from 1975-77.
Asher moved to Toronto from Montreal in 1977. While building his eventual music production company, he worked at Kozak’s Music Store which introduced him to Toronto music community, including his idol, Oscar Peterson. By 1980 Asher Music was a full time business servicing the advertising creative/production community.
From 1986-1988 Asher served on the executive board of the Advertising Music Producers Association of Canada (AMPAC).
In 1987, Asher teamed up with Tony Kosinec (All Things Come From God, OK Blue Jays) to form Thinkmusic. In their 22 years together, Tony & Asher became one of the best respected creative teams in the Canada. Thinkmusic was the first music production company to set up a full service recording studio. Thinkmusic’s client list expanded into long form projects, including TV series (Ready Or Not, Grand Illusions) film scoring (Joan of Arc mini series) CDs (Pure Elise– Elise LeGrow) as well as their own personal music CD projects. After creating & producing approximately 3,000 short, medium and long form tracks including 1,000+ commercial spots for TV, Radio & new media advertising clients, the award winning Thinkmusic closed its facility in November 2009.
Asher’s solo long form music work to date includes three full length cds, beatlegrooves(acid jazz), E-Bull (abstract electronica), and Acid Opera (Opera and Art Song reinterpreted). He has created works in musical styles ranging from Rock to Rachmaninoff, provided synthesizer tutorials for Oscar Peterson (an owner of one of Asher’s ‘Tipping Point’ series paintings), composed for and music directed Charlotte Church (Joan OF Arc), and has composed concert works including an opus of Piano Preludes, a Symphonic Tone Poem, a Suite For String Orchestra (Pieces of English) and a String Quartet.
In 2008, Asher became a principal partner at the Bread and Circus, a theatre/music venue/gallery/bar located in Kensington Market, Toronto’s bohemian center of gravity. Bread & Circus quickly became the cultural hub of Kensington Market. It attracted and hosted a cross section of emerging and established artists (Colin Mochrie, Daniel Macivor), gave residency to The National Theater of the World’s Carnegie Hall Show, as well as hosting Canadian Music Week, NXNE and Toronto Fringe Festivals. Asher performed with Elise LeGrow and others on the Bread & Circus stage several times. Most importantly, association with the live theatre and music venue put Asher’s ear to the ground, introducing him to Toronto’s community of emerging performing artists, musicians, theatre directors and producers.
From June 2008 to April 2012, Asher was Artist Manager and Music Director for Elise LeGrow, the extraordinary Toronto based singer, songwriter and performer. He accompanied her on piano during her 10 month residency at the Drake Hotel. Elise’s American Songbook recording ‘Pure Elise’ (with Reg Schwager) and her jazz single ‘Black Cat’, both produced by Asher, attracted the attention of SonyATV Music Publishing, who signed her to compose and record for them. Elise’s first single as a solo pop artist, No Good Woman, executive produced by Gary Furniss (SonyATV) and co-written/produced by Thomas ‘Tawgs‘ Salter (Josh Groban) was released on Jan 1, 2012; within 16 weeks, Elise found herself on the Top Ten AC Charts in Canada.
Asher’s history as a fine artist began in May 2003. With no formal training, Asher began painting canvases, using musical icons, graphics and instruments as his principal subject matter. He has since completed over 200 paintings, many of which were made public for the first time at the Nov 25, 2011 exhibition “The Art of Music”.
Asher continues to provide full creative services for advertisers, film & TV producers.