Asha Barendregt: September 17, 1948 – August 25, 2026
Asha Barendregt, of Warren, Oregon, passed away peacefully at home August 14, 2026. Asha was born September 17 in Cheyenne , Wyoming to Martha Haggans, an entertainer, and Jesse Weldon Haggans III, a Sergeant in the U.S. Air Force.
From an early age, Asha demonstrated her talent as a vocalist and arranger, forming her vocal group ‘The Lornettes’ while still in High School in Ventura, California. Her mother, a renowned vocalist herself, chaperoned the girls at public appearances while they were under contract to Gallio Records. One of Asha’s compositions ,”Standing There All Alone” charted nationally along with The Lornettes recordings of “His Way with the Girls” and “Down the Block and Up to Heaven”. “His Way with the Girls” is particularly remembered for a French horn intro, an instrument rarely featured on R & B (rhythm and blues) recordings at the time.
In the mid-sixties she formed a duo, then a trio with other musicians in the Ventura area. Asha and her sister Patricia also recorded background vocals for the band ‘Sam and Dave’, crooner Barry White, and other R & B legends on the Epic record label. While under contract to Twentieth Century Records, Asha recorded the original version of “(There’s Got to Be) A Morning After”, subsequently released by Maureen McGovern for the movie “The Posideon Adventure”.
Asha’s older brother Jesse joined the band upon his discharge from the Army, and the group was renamed ‘Martha’s Children’ after their mother, Martha Haggans. The band also featured Asha’s younger sister and her son, Kenny. The group was quite popular in the Reno, Nevada area, enjoying extended appearances at local hotels and casinos and also appearing at Lake Tahoe and Cal-Neva Casinos. Between these engagements, the group toured the Pacific Northwest, venturing as far north as British Columbia. In 1986 Martha’s Children was featured in a year-long USO tour that included military bases in South Korea.
Leaving Reno and Martha’s Children in the mid-nineties, Asha moved north to Boise, Idaho, where she performed with ‘The Boise Divas ‘, an all-woman ensemble, and later formed ‘Boi Izzy Blue’, a blues/rock quartet that featured Asha on vocals and keyboards. Later, she joined her sister’s band ‘Joyride’, which became a very popular dance band on Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines.
While touring with Royal Caribbean, she maintained correspondence with Peter Barendregt of Portland, Oregon, whom she had met in Idaho after a performance. On September 17, 2001, they were married in St. Helens, Oregon and made a home in nearby Warren. Asha quickly established a musical presence in Warren, founding Ashatoonz, a recording company with on-site facilities. Writing, arranging, and recording her own gospel-influenced music, Asha also taught drums, piano, and voice at the Olde School in St. Helens while teaching music in local private elementary schools. When her sister moved to Columbia County, they appeared together as ‘Missed Her Sister’ at local venues. Asha also appeared with her husband as ‘Two Tone’ and with her brothers’ bands in Roseburg, Oregon, by turns recognized as ‘Phynx’, ‘Isaiah 11’, and “T.O.B.(That Other Band)’.
Asha found the time and energy to serve as an Elder in the Scappoose S.D.A. church, where she formed the ‘Ash’ Cappella Choir’, often travelling to other houses of worship in the region, and served as Chaplain to Elks Lodge #1999 in St. Helens, OR.
Beloved wife, mother, sister, musician, educator and spiritual leader, Asha left this world August 14, 2026. She is survived by her husband, Peter; her brothers Jesse and Reggie and her sister Patricia, all of Roseburg, OR; her son, Kenny, of Aloha, OR; and her grandchildren and great-grandchildren of Boise, ID.
We all miss her.
