Nick Ashford of Motown’s Ashford & Simpson dies aged 70
Written by admin on August 22, 2011 – 9:59 pm -Just as we are absorbing the news of Jerry Leiber’s sad death, reports come in that Nick Ashford of Motown group and songwriting team Ashford & Simpson passed away today in New York. The 70-year-old had been suffering from throat cancer.
Nick Ashford and Valerie Simpson, who married in 1974, had successful careers as both songwriters and performers. After a brief spell writing for the Scepter/Wand label in the mid-1960s, during which they penned hits for the likes of Ray Charles, the Shirelles and Maxine Brown, the pair joined Motown in 1966 where they wrote a string of classic songs for artists such as Marvin Gaye/Tammi Terrell (“Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” and “Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing”), Gladys Knight and The Pips (“Didn’t You Know You’d Have to Cry Sometime”), Smokey Robinson & The Miracles (“Who’s Gonna Take the Blame”), the Supremes (“Some Things You Never Get Used To”), the Marvelettes (“Destination:Anywhere”) and many more.
Ashford & Simpson recorded 16 albums together between 1973 and 1996, of which two hit number one on the Billboard R&B album chart – “Is It Still Good For Ya” (1978) and “Solid” (1984). The latter also yielded their biggest single, “Solid,” which hit number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number three on the UK singles chart.
Ashford & Simpson – “Solid”
Ashford is survived by his wife and two daughters.
Tags: Ashford & Simpson, Ashford & Simpson - Solid, Nick Ashford, Nick Ashford death, Valerie Simpson
Posted in Motown, Obituaries |
