
Nick Ashford
Biography
Nickolas Ashford (May 4, 1941 – August 22, 2011) was an American R&B singer and songwriter, best known for his musical partnership with his wife Valerie Simpson as the duo Ashford & Simpson. He was born in Fairfield, South Carolina, and raised in Ypsilanti, Michigan, where he began singing and writing music in a church gospel choir. After briefly attending Eastern Michigan University, he moved to New York to pursue a career in entertainment. In 1964, he met Valerie Simpson in Harlem, and the two began writing songs together. Their breakthrough came when Ray Charles recorded “Let’s Go Get Stoned,” leading to a contract with Motown in 1966, where they became successful songwriters and producers. Ashford and Simpson later married in 1974 and continued to work together as performers and composers. Ashford died on August 22, 2011, in New York at the age of 70 after battling throat cancer.
Filmografi
New Jack City1991 · Reverend Oates
Live Aid1985 · Self
Night of 100 Stars II1985 · Self
Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever1983 · Self
Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute1988 · Self [Ashford & Simpson]
Queens of Disco2007 · Self
Motown 40: The Music Is Forever1998 · Self
Magic Night1980 · Self
Michael McDonald & Doobie Brothers Live on Soundstage2004 · vocals
The Tammi Terrell Story2010 ·
Valerie Simpson
Gregory Hines
Stevie Wonder
Patti LaBelle
Whoopi Goldberg
Richard Dreyfuss
Billy Dee Williams
Mick Jagger
Whitney Houston
Billy Connolly
Jim Kerr
Sting