Album Notes

Growing up in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia, childhood friends Mike Unger & Ray Jones carefully crafted their musical skills, playing churches and back porch jams. The two quickly developed a passion for music, inspired by Ray’s father, the late Rev. Raymond E. Jones, credited with nine albums and a powerful ministry spanning over 50 years. While touring extensively with the highly-successful country music group Rivers Edge, these gifted musicians performed three consecutive years at the prestigious Ellipse in our nation’s capitol. They also earned a spot in Willie Nelson’s Farm Aid. After recording three CD’s, one under the direction of two-time Grammy winner Larry Butler, Mike & Ray were honored to receive Butler’s full endorsement for their latest release.

As the Holy Spirit moved in their music and their lives, these fine gentlemen gave their hearts to the Lord. Who could have imagined that personal crisis would then attack the hearts of both men, nearly shattering their dreams? It was only through the miracle of God’s Grace that each would find the strength to persevere, as Ray lost his wife to cancer in 2005, and Mike struggled to raise his only son, stricken with a debilitating illness. Instead, the friends continued to write, sing, and play as they journeyed on. Combining soulful melodies with vocal harmony, Ash2Ash has developed a truly unique style which delivers life-changing messages about God’s love.

Having appeared over the last two years as Ash2Ash, the duo has performed throughout West Virginia, Washington D.C., Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Georgia. Special appearances have included the 2006 National Breast Cancer Coalition Conference; Full Gospel Pentecostal Summer 2006 Camp Meeting with Carla and the Redemptions; the first ever Gospel Concert at the Pentagon in Washington D.C. in 2006 with gospel great Stella Parton; the September 11th Memorial Service at Fort Gordon, GA; and the first Gospel Concert at Sea in November 2006 in the Caribbean with Dove Award Winners The Easter Brothers.

Ash2Ash has just released their third CD or their all original music, “One Day On High,” which includes the much anticipated and requested songs “Praise the King” and “Eye on the Sparrow.” This CD promises to be even better than their first two CD’s, “In These Troubled Times” and “One Step Closer” that introduced truly heaven-inspired songs “One Step Closer to Thee” and “Forevermore,” the band’s signature song defining God’s love.

“We are just the messengers,” says Jones. “Our purpose is to serve our Lord Jesus Christ and lift up His Holy Name in song and praise. We strive to encourage unity among Christians and encourage the Christian youth.”