Happy Birthday: Valerie Simpson

We're wishing a very happy birthday to a legendary and phenomenal woman, Mrs. Valerie Simpson, half of singer-songwriting duo Ashford & Simpson. Both contributed to many tunes in the Motown catalog, as well as penning hits for other legendary artists, for movie soundtracks and for themselves.

Their biggest and most memorable hit single is "Solid", the title track of their album released in 1984 that went #1 on the Billboard R&B charts and certified gold by the RIAA. Both were inducted to the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2002.

Keep Valerie in your prayers, as many now know that her husband Nick passed away only days ago.

Farewell: Nick Ashford of Ashford & Simpson

Nick Ashford
(May 4, 1941 – August 22, 2011)
I have just learned upon waking up that the legendary Nickolas Ashford, half of the husband and wife singer-songwriting duo has passed away. The duo has written a string of hits that are part of the Motown catalog for Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, Gladys Knight & The Pips, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, The Supremes, The Marvelettes and The Dynamic Superiors. They have also penned hit tunes for Chaka Khan, Aretha Franklin, Teddy Pendergrass, Luther Vandross, Rufus, Ray Charles and The Brothers Johnson, as well as contributing for a few movie soundtracks.

Ashford also did his share of acting for the movie New Jack City (Rev. Oates) with Wesley Snipes, Mario Van Peebles and Ice T, and the television series New York Undercover with Malik Yoba.