Ashford & Simpson | |
|---|---|
 Ashford & Simpson in 2000 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | New York City, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 1964–2011 |
| Labels | |
Ashford & Simpson were an American husband-and-wife songwriting, production and recording duo composed of Nickolas Ashford (May 4, 1941 – August 22, 2011)[1] and Valerie Simpson (born August 26, 1946).[2]
Ashford was born inFairfield, South Carolina, and Simpson in theBronx,New York City. Ashford's family relocated toYpsilanti, Michigan, where he became a member of Christ Temple Baptist Church. While there, he sang with a group called the Hammond Singers (named after the founding minister, James Hammond). Later, Ashford attended and graduated fromWillow Run High School in Ypsilanti, Michigan, before pursuing his professional career, when he would ultimately meet his wife, Valerie Simpson. They met atHarlem's White Rock Baptist Church in 1964. After having recorded unsuccessfully as a duo, they joined an aspiring solo artist and former member ofThe Ikettes,Joshie Jo Armstead, at the Scepter/Wand label, where their compositions were recorded byRonnie Milsap ("Never Had It So Good") andMaxine Brown ("One Step at a Time"), as well asThe Shirelles,The Guess Who, andChuck Jackson. Another of the trio's songs, "Let's Go Get Stoned", gaveRay Charles a number one U.S. R&B hit in 1966. That same year, Ashford and Simpson joinedMotown, where their best-known songs included "Ain't No Mountain High Enough", "You're All I Need to Get By", "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing", and "Reach Out and Touch (Somebody's Hand)." Ashford and Simpson wrote many other hit songs, includingChaka Khan's "I'm Every Woman" (1978) and "Is It Still Good to Ya?", originally recorded by the duo in 1978 and covered byTeddy Pendergrass in 1980.
As performers, Ashford & Simpson's best-known duets are "Solid" (1984) and "Found a Cure" (1979). The duo was inducted into theSongwriters Hall of Fame in 2002. They are also recipients ofThe Rhythm & Blues Foundation's Pioneer Award,ASCAP Founders Award, and theGrammy Trustee Award.[3][4]Rolling Stone ranked them No. 19 on its list of the 20 Greatest Duos of All Time.[5]
Nick Ashford was also an occasional actor, having appeared as Reverend Oates in the 1991 movieNew Jack City.
The duo essentially had two careers: one as a successful writing and producing team and the other as singers and performers themselves. They started their career in the mid-1960s, writing for artists such asthe 5th Dimension ("California Soul"),Aretha Franklin ("Cry Like a Baby"), andRay Charles ("Let's Go Get Stoned").[6] Their work with Charles brought them to the attention ofMotown chiefBerry Gordy.[6]
Upon joining the Motown staff in 1966, Ashford & Simpson were paired with the vocal duoMarvin Gaye andTammi Terrell, and they wrote and/or produced all but one of the late-1960s Gaye/Terrell singles, including hits such as the original version of "Ain't No Mountain High Enough", "Your Precious Love", "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing", and "You're All I Need to Get By".[6] According to Gaye in the bookDivided Soul, Simpson did most of the vocals on the last album he did with Terrell,Easy, as a way for Terrell's family to have additional income, as she was battling an ultimately fatal brain tumor. Though Louvain Demps, singer ofthe Andantes, has stated that she saw Terrell recording the album, Simpson is quoted as saying, in a book written by Terrell's sister Ludie Montgomery, what they saw was her singing the guide tracks for the album, which were later replaced by Tammi's own vocals.
Ashford & Simpson wrote and produced almost all the songs on three 1970s albums for formerSupremeDiana Ross, including her first solo albumDiana Ross ("Reach Out and Touch (Somebody's Hand)")[7] and "Ain't No Mountain High Enough",Surrender ("Remember Me"), andThe Boss.[6] All three albums were critically acclaimed withDiana Ross, her 1970 album debut, andThe Boss being certified platinum and "Surrender" certified gold.
Other Motown artists whom Ashford & Simpson worked with includeGladys Knight & the Pips ("Didn't You Know You'd Have to Cry Sometime", and after Motown they wrote and produced for this group "Landlord", "Bourgie, Bourgie", and "Taste of Bitter Love"),Smokey Robinson & the Miracles ("Who's Gonna Take the Blame"),Syreeta Wright ("I Can't Give Back the Love I Feel for You"),the Marvelettes ("Destination: Anywhere"),Martha Reeves and the Vandellas ("Tear It On Down" and "It Ain't Like That"),the Dynamic Superiors ("Shoe, Shoe Shine"),Blinky Williams ("I Wouldn't Change the Man He Is"), andthe Supremes with theFour Tops (original duets, plus the production of a hit cover ofPhil Spector's "River Deep-Mountain High").
Other artists with whom Ashford & Simpson had hits wereTeddy Pendergrass ("Is It Still Good to Ya"),the Brothers Johnson ("Ride-O-Rocket"),Stephanie Mills ("Keep Away Girls"),Ace Spectrum ("Don't Send Nobody Else') andChaka Khan, both on her own ("I'm Every Woman" and "Clouds"), and withRufus ("Keep It Comin'" and "Ain't Nothin' But a Maybe").
Ashford & Simpson's career as recording artists began in the early 1960s as part of the gospel group the Followers, with whom they recorded the albumGospel Meeting (on Forum Circle), later issued asMeetin' The Followers (onRoulette Records). The LP contains their vocals and also four Ashford compositions. In 1964, they recorded "I'll Find You", as "Valerie & Nick". That was followed by several obscure singles recorded by Ashford on the Glover,Verve andABC labels, such as "It Ain't Like That" (not the same song as they would later write for Martha Reeves and the Vandellas), "California Soul", and "Dead End Kids", backed by his own version of "Let's Go Get Stoned".
Simpson appeared (withMelba Moore) as part of the "Blood, Sweat & Tears Soul Chorus" on the band's debut albumChild Is Father to the Man in 1968. After concentrating on working with other artists, Simpson was the featured soloist on the songs "Bridge Over Troubled Water" and "What's Going On" on theQuincy Jones albumsGula Matari in 1970, and its follow-up,Smackwater Jack.
Simpson subsequently recorded two solo LPs forMotown:Exposed in 1971, and, the following year,Valerie Simpson, which included the single "Silly, Wasn't I". In 1973, they left Motown after the albums Simpson recorded for the label received poor promotion, and the company refused to release an album of the duo recording a collection of their most famous songs for other artists.
Ashford and Simpson married after resuming their career as a duo[6] and would go on to have two daughters.[8][9] In 1973,Warner Bros. released their first duo album titledGimme Something Real. This was followed in 1974 byI Wanna Be Selfish. In 1975, Simpson sang backing vocals onPaul Simon'snumber-one hit "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover", and in 1976 they releasedCome As You Are. 1977 saw the release of two albums –So So Satisfied andSend it. This was followed by the hit singles "Send It", "Don't Cost You Nothin'" (1977), "It Seems To Hang On" (1978), "Is It Still Good To Ya" (1978), "Found a Cure" (1979), "Street Corner" (1982), and their biggest hit, "Solid", released in 1984.[6]
In 1978, they were featured as vocalists along withChaka Khan, on the hit single "Stuff Like That" fromQuincy Jones'Sounds...and Stuff Like That!! album and contributed to the writing of thesoundtrack toThe Wiz.
In 1986, the duo appeared as themselves in "Nocturne", an episode of the popular television seriesThe Equalizer, where they performed their hit single "Count Your Blessings" from theirReal Love album.
On his own, Ashford (along withFrank Wilson) produced the hit "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me", whichDiana Ross & the Supremes recorded in collaboration withthe Temptations in 1968. He also appeared in the movieNew Jack City (1991), as Reverend Oates, an ordained minister who was part of Nino Brown's entourage.
Simpson's brothers were in the record business as well:Ray Simpson replacedVictor Willis inthe Village People and their brother Jimmy Simpson produced the groupGQ (which had big hits with "Disco Nights (Rock-Freak)" and "I Do Love You"), and was in great demand as a mixing engineer during thedisco era.
In latter times, Ashford & Simpson recorded and toured sporadically, and in 1996, they opened a restaurant and live entertainmentvenue, Sugar Bar in New York City, with anopen mic on Thursday nights, where performers includedQueen Latifah,Vickie Natale andFelicia Collins. Ashford & Simpson recorded the albumBeen Found with poetMaya Angelou in 1996.[10] Around that time, they were also featured disc jockeys on New York radio stationWRKS.
On August 16, 2006,Playbill Online reported that they were writing the score for a musical based onE. Lynn Harris's novelInvisible Life.[11]
Ashford died at the age of 70 in a New York City hospital on August 22, 2011, four days before Valerie Simpson's 65th birthday, of complications fromthroat cancer. Hispublicist, Liz Rosenberg, said that he had undergoneradiation therapy to treat his illness.[12][13]
Simpson released a solo album in June 2012, calledDinosaurs Are Coming Back Again, which also featured the last recorded performance ofNina Simone, a second duet withRoberta Flack and an instrumental version of "Ain't No Mountain High Enough".[14]
In May 2014, Simpson was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Music fromBerklee College of Music.[15]
In 1969, Ashford and Simpson won threeBMI Awards for the songs "Ain't No Mountain High Enough," "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing," and "Your Precious Love."[16]
Ashford and Simpson were inducted into theSongwriters Hall of Fame in 2002. They were also recipients ofThe Rhythm & Blues Foundation's Pioneer Award in 1999, andASCAP's highest honor, the Founders Award, which they received in 1996.[4]
Simpson was inducted among the inaugural honorees to theWomen Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2021.[17]
Ashford and Simpson were nominated for three Grammy Awards.[18] In 2019, they received theGrammy Trustees Award.[19][3]
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Ashford And Simpson | Best Video, Short Form | Nominated |
| 1986 | Solid | Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal | Nominated |
| 1987 | Real Love | Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal | Nominated |
| Year | Album | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Record label | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [20] | US R&B [20] | AUT [21] | CAN [22] | GER [23] | NLD [24] | NZ [25] | SWI [26] | UK [27] | ||||||
| 1973 | Gimme Something Real | 156 | 18 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Warner Bros. | |||
| 1974 | I Wanna Be Selfish | 195 | 21 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
| 1976 | Come as You Are | 189 | 35 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
| 1977 | So So Satisfied | 180 | 30 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
| Send It | 52 | 10 | — | 53 | — | — | — | — | — | |||||
| 1978 | Is It Still Good to Ya | 20 | 1 | — | 43 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
| 1979 | Stay Free | 23 | 3 | — | 71 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
| 1980 | A Musical Affair | 38 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
| 1982 | Street Opera | 45 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Capitol | |||
| 1983 | High-Rise | 84 | 14 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
| 1984 | Solid | 29 | 1 | 13 | 47 | 11 | 25 | 17 | 15 | 42 | ||||
| 1986 | Real Love | 74 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
| 1989 | Love or Physical | 135 | 28 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
| 1996 | Been Found | — | 49 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Hopsack & Silk | |||
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | ||||||||||||||
| Year | Album | Peak chart positions | Record label | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [20] | US R&B [20] | |||||||||||||
| 1981 | Performance | 125 | 45 | Warner Bros. | ||||||||||
| 2009 | The Real Thing | — | 59 | Burgundy | ||||||||||
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | ||||||||||||||
| Year | Single | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [20] | US R&B [20] | US Dan [20] | AUT [21] | CAN [22] | GER [23] | NLD [24] | NZ [25] | SWI [26] | UK [27] | |||||
| 1964 | "I'll Find You"[A] | 117 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | N/a | ||
| "Don't You Feel Sorry"[A] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
| "It Ain't Like That"[A] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
| 1973 | "(I'd Know You) Anywhere" | 88 | 37 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Gimme Something Real | ||
| 1974 | "Have You Ever Tried It" | — | 77 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "Main Line" | — | 37 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | I Wanna Be Selfish | |||
| "Everybody's Got to Give It Up" | — | 53 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
| 1975 | "Bend Me" | — | 73 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Gimme Something Real | ||
| 1976 | "It'll Come, It'll Come, It'll Come" | — | 96 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Come as You Are | ||
| "Somebody Told a Lie" | — | 58 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
| "One More Try" | — | — | 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
| "Tried, Tested and Found True" | — | 52 | 34 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | So So Satisfied | |||
| 1977 | "So So Satisfied" | — | 27 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "Over and Over" | — | 39 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
| "Send It" | — | 15 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Send It | |||
| 1978 | "Don't Cost You Nothing" | 79 | 10 | 23 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 58[A] | |||
| "By Way of Love's Express" | — | 35 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
| "Stuff Like That"(withQuincy Jones &Chaka Khan)[B] | 21 | 1 | — | — | 23 | — | 24 | — | — | 34 | Sounds...and Stuff Like That!! | |||
| "It Seems to Hang On" | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 48 | Is It Still Good to Ya | |||
| "Is It Still Good to Ya" | — | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
| 1979 | "Flashback" | — | 70 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "Found a Cure" | 36 | 2 | 1 | — | 65 | — | 37 | — | — | — | Stay Free | |||
| "Nobody Knows" | — | 19 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||
| "Stay Free" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||
| 1980 | "Love Don't Make It Right" | — | 6 | 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | A Musical Affair | ||
| "Happy Endings" | — | 35 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
| 1981 | "Get Out Your Handkerchief" | — | 65 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "It Shows in the Eyes" | — | 34 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Performance | |||
| "It's the Long Run" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
| 1982 | "Street Corner" | 56 | 9 | 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Street Opera | ||
| "Love It Away" | — | 20 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
| 1983 | "I'll Take the Whole World On" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "High-Rise" | — | 17 | 41 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | High-Rise | |||
| "It's Much Deeper" | — | 45 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
| 1984 | "I'm Not That Tough" | — | 78 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "Solid" | 12 | 1 | 15 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | Solid | |||
| 1985 | "Outta the World" | 102 | 4 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "Babies" | 102 | 29 | — | — | — | 53 | — | — | — | 56 | ||||
| 1986 | "Count Your Blessings" | 84 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 79 | Real Love | ||
| "What Becomes of Love" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
| 1987 | "Nobody Walks in L.A." | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| 1989 | "I'll Be There for You" | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Love or Physical | ||
| "Cookies and Cake" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
| 1990 | "Hungry for Me Again" | — | 40 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Def by Temptation | ||
| 1996 | "Been Found" | — | 80 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Been Found | ||
| 1997 | "What If" | — | 94 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| 2001 | "We Are Family"(with Various Artists) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | N/a | ||
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | ||||||||||||||
Listed below are solo recordings made by Valerie Simpson.
| Year | Album | Peak chart positions | Record label | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [31] | US R&B [31] | |||||||||||||
| 1971 | Exposed | 159 | 30 | Tamla | ||||||||||
| 1972 | Valerie Simpson | 162 | 50 | |||||||||||
| 2012 | Dinosaurs Are Coming Back Again | — | — | Hopsack & Silk | ||||||||||
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | ||||||||||||||
| Year | Single | Peak chart positions | Album | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [31] | US R&B [31] | |||||||||||||
| 1971 | "Can't It Wait Until Tomorrow" | — | — | Exposed | ||||||||||
| 1972 | "Silly Wasn't I" | 63 | 24 | Valerie Simpson | ||||||||||
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | ||||||||||||||
Listed below are solo recordings made by Nick Ashford.
| International | |
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| National | |
| Artists | |
| People | |
Nickolas Ashford | |
| Valerie Simpson | |