Ashley MacIsaac was born in Creignish, on the western side of Cape Breton. 

By the time he started school, he was performing as a dancer in concerts, graduating to fiddle and piano a short time later. Before he graduated high school, he was playing across North America, including playing and dancing in a Phillip Glass off-Broadway production. 

Over the years, he has experimented with musical styles, evolving into an award-winning genre bending performer, writer, and singer who has toured and performed for sellout crowds around the world, including the 2010 Winter Olympic opening ceremonies. 

He has gold and platinum records, been awarded a doctorate, Juno awards, toured with The Cheiftans to Sheryl Crow, performed all over the world with Philip Glass's Orion project and as a headliner in theatres and festivals. He has acted in film and TV, has an autobiography called Fiddling with Disaster, several documentaries made about his colorful life. 

Ashley is his own genre.