Photos: A Tribute to Motown Great Nick Ashford
The list of songs that the late Nick Ashford wrote with his wife and longtime creative partner Valerie Simpson is simply staggering: "Ain't No Mountain High Enough," "Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing," "You're All I Need To Get By" and "I'm Every Woman" are just a few highlights. In 1974, after a decade of writing songs together, Ashford and Simpson married and began releasing their own hits – including "Don't Cost You Nothin,'" "Found A Cure," "Street Corner" and their 1984 smash hit "Solid." They remained a popular touring act over the past couple decades, and even opened their own restaurant in New York City.
Here's a photo tribute to Ashford, who died on August 22nd at age 69 of complications from throat cancer.
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George Benson, Valerie Simpson, Nick Ashford and Stevie Wonder pose backstage in New York, circa 1978.
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Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson of Ashford & Simpson perform in New York, circa 1978.
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Nick Ashford, Valerie Simpson and Teddy Pendergrass performing at the Live Aid Concert on July 13, 1985 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
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Nick Ashford and wife Valerie Simpson attending a New Year's Eve Party on December 31, 1986 in New York City.
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Nick Ashford, Valerie Simpson and their daughter attending an AIDS Benefit Fashion Show on April 1, 1990 at the Tribeca Grill in New York City.
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Nick Ashford and Valerie Simpson perform on stage at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival in New Orleans, Louisiana on May 5, 1990.
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B.B. King, Whitney Houston, Nick Ashford and Valerie Simpson attend the 21st Annual Songwriters Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Awards Dinner on May 30, 1990 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City.
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Alicia Keys, Nick Ashford and Keys' mother Terri Augello pose for a photograph at Sugar Bar after Alicia's performance at the City Center in New York City, August 24, 2001.
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Big Boi of Outkast, Valerie Simpson and Nick Ashford attend the 22nd Annual ASCAP Pop Music Awards Gala on May 16, 2005 at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California.
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Diana Ross, Valerie Simpson and Nick Ashford during the 2006 Clive Davis Pre-GRAMMY Awards Party at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills on February 8, 2006.
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Nick Ashford, writer Fran Lebowitz and actress Whoopi Goldberg attend Chado Ralph Rucci Fall 2010 show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week on February 11, 2010 in New York City.
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Nick Ashford and Valerie Simpson perform at The Apollo Theater on February 15, 2011 in New York City.