Ed Askew is a painter and singer-songwriter who lives in New York City. Born in Stamford, Connecticut, he moved to New Haven to study painting at Yale Art School in 1963 and took up, more or less, permanent residence there until leaving for New York in 1987.

After graduating from art school in 1966, Askew was called up for the draft. Not feeling particularly enthusiastic about going to war at age 26 (the Navy tried to convince him that he should apply for officer training!), he looked for a teaching job and found work at a private prep school in Connecticut. It was while teaching he started making songs; he also acquired his Martin Tiple at this time. "I must have written 25 songs that semester; all of the material on Unicorn and possibly some stuff on Little Eyes."

The singer-songwriter moved to New York for a few months n 1967 where he met Bernard Stolman of ESP Disk', who offered him a contract. Between 1968 and 1986, Ed lived, mostly, in New Haven; doing occasional shows with his band, and later doing solo shows there.

Around 1987, Ed moved to New York City, where he continues to write and record songs, and occasionally perform.