Nick Ashford, one half of the songwriting duo Ashford & Simpson, passed away Monday in a New York hospital after succumbing to throat cancer. The husband and wife duo were the pens behind many of R&B’s bests, having written hits for Diana Ross, Marvin Gaye, Chaka Khan and, more recently, received co-writing credit on Amy Winehouse’s “Tears Dry On Their Own.” Kids of the ’80s will mostly likely remember the tandem best for when “Solid Like A Rock” used to play on Video Soul during the Donnie Simpson days.
CATEGORY: Everything Else, GENERAL, HEADLINES, SMOKE BREAK | TAGS: Ashford & Simpson, Nick Simpson, Obituaries, Valerie Ashford
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Noooooo! Dammit, man. I kinda expect this to happen with increasing frequency as I get older… but it still sucks.
Nick Ashford could write some jams man… Just stone cold, love your lady jams. He definitely repped an era and a style of songwriting that’s not poppin in modern black music–love over sex ballads.
Ashford & Simpson write love songs for your ass. Like 4minute long public displays of affection, I’m married and fuckit I love this woman type songs.
And as I said on Twitter, Nick Ashford also repped for that rare breed of straight black men with straight black hair.
Brother could rock a perm, couldn’t he? Him and Verdine White from EWF. Sho nuff POPs – Permed Out Playas.
All the good Permed Out Playas are dead… James Brown… Nick Ashford… Barry White…
We need to get a Tourney of 64 going for all-time great Perms. Nick Ashford may not win it, but the winner would hafta go thru him to take the crown.
“Relaxed like Dru Down’s hair…”
That man could write a hit song in his sleep. So much talent. Sad sad day for music. I hope the younger generation recognizes Ashford and Simpson’s brilliance and contribution to music in general.
“You ad I together is like Ashford & Simpson/picture us together at the Hustlers’ Convention…”
I didn’t realize Ashford & Simpson wrote as much for Motown as they did. They were prolific for real. I mean they were bad in the 70s and 80s… even wrote some joints for Disney features in the 90s. A definite miss for the industry.
R.I.P. Nick Ashford
Walter Hawkins had a cold-blooded perm too if I’m not mistaken.
I didn’t. Even realize how mny hits they wrote until I really researched it. This man was a pure writer, it was effortless. But I’m gonna be musically depressed when I get a lil older because all the great artists I grew up listening to from the 60′s-80′s are gonna be gone.
When Stevie goes I won’t be able to take it.
^^
When Stevie goes I won’t able to take it.
That’s gonna fuck a lot of people up…not waiting for that day.
When Stevie goes I won’t able to take it.
==========
You know how many times I’ve thought about this? dreading the day.
/\ let’s not go there please and thank you.
RIP Mr Ashford
I was just thinking about them too. Just over the weekend, wondering where they been. Such a sad day in music !!
this is a very sad day for music!! ughhh very talented songwriter and individual in general RIP :(((
R.I.P. Nick Ashford. He is a legend!