Nick Ashford of Ashford & Simpson Songwriting Duo Has Died

Nick Ashford of the husband and wife songwriting team, Ashford & Simpson, has died. The announcement was made by Liz Rosenberg, Ashford’s friend and former publicist. Rosenberg said Ashford had been undergoing radiation treatment for throat cancer, and died Monday at a New York City hospital. No further details about Ashford’s passing were given.

Nick Ashford and Valerie Simpson, wrote some of the biggest chartbusters of the 1980s for many of the biggest names at Motown; Diana Ross, Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, and Chaka Khan. The songwriting duo of Ashford & Simpson penned such Rock and Roll Hall of Fame hits as “Ain’t No Mountain High enough,” Reach Out and Touch Somebody’s Hand,” “All I Need To Get By,” “I’m Every Woman,” and “Your Precious Love.”

Nicholas Ashford, a native of South Carolina, was at one of the lowest points in his life when he arrived in New York City in 1964, found himself homeless for awhile. But, Ashford climbed to the pinnacle of his professional life when he teamed up with Valerie Simpson to write the words to her music.

For more than 40 years the songwriting duo of Ashford & Simpson produced music that is still popular with audiences today. Ashford & Simpson wrote and performed “Solid As A Rock,” their most successful recording, which aptly describes their marriage of more than three decades.

Nick Ashford and Valerie Simpson have two daughters, Nicole and Asia. The eldest daughter, Nicole, manages her parents business, while the youngest, Asia is still trying to find her niche in life.

Ashford, a young man who set out for the big city to make a name for himself as a dancer, found it instead as one half of a whole songwriting team.

Nick Ashford, dead at age 70.

Sources

http://www.modbee.com/2011/08/22/1825935/songwriter-nick-ashford-dies-had.html

http://harlemworldblog.wordpress.com/2008/05/08/ashford-simpson-the-real-thing/http://www.songfacts.com/blog/writing/valerie_simpson_talks_about_motown_in_1969/


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