Ashford & Simpson – “The Perfect, Unstoppable Duo”
November 28, 2008 by admin
Filed under Featured Artists
Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson are both husband and wife and are actively involved in songwriting and singing. The duo started with two careers which makes them both famous as singers and as a writing and production team for other singers.
The duo started their career in 1960 when they wrote songs for artists including Ray Charles, The Fifth Dimension and Aretha Franklin. Nickolas (born in Fairfield, South Carolina on May 4, 1942) and Valerie (born in The Bronx, New York on August 26, 1946) are popular composers and singers and joined Joshie Jo Armstead for their compositions after unsuccessful recordings. The alliance gave them their share of fame as they released “Never Had It So Good” and “One Step At A Time”. Their first big hit on the US R&B charts was “Let’s Go Get Stoned” in 1966. Later the duo joined Holland/ Dozier/Holland at Motown after which they gave their greatest hits “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”, “Remember Me”, “You’re All I Need To Get By” and “Reach Out And Touch Somebody’ Hand”.
Ashford and Simpson worked with various Motown artists in Motown which included Diana Ross, Gladys Knight & The Pips, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, The Marvelettes, The Supremes, The Dynamic Superiors, Teddy Pendergrass, Chaka Khan, Rufus and The Brother Johnson.
The duo were featured as vocalists on the hit single “Stuff Like That” in 1978. Simpson also appeared with Melba Moore in “Child Is The Father to the Man” as part of “Blood, Sweat & Tears Soul Chorus”.
Ashley & Simpson started small in 1964 with their recording “I’ll Find You” which was followed by numerous singles by the duo. After working with other artists on their compositions, Simpson became the featured soloist and the songs “What’s Going On” and “Bridge Over Troubled Water” in 1970 saw the rise of the band as a melodious duo.
Ashley & Simpson got married in 1973 and followed their career with Warner Brothers. They released some hit singles after their album “Gimme Something Real”, which include “Don’t Cost You Nothin” in 1977, “Is It Still Good to Ya” in 1978, “It Seems To Hang On” in 1978, “Found A Cure” in 1979, and “Street Corner” in 1982. The most popular song by Ashford and Simpson was in 1984 “Solid”.
In 1996, Ashley & Simpson toured and recorded many singles and on August 16th, 2006, they were reported to be writing for “Invisible Life”, a musical based on E. Lynn Harris’s novel. As people they are really kind as they teamed up with Tina Turner, Mariah Carey, Spike Lee, Chris Tucker and Oprah Winfrey for opening the school for disadvantaged girls in South Africa.
Their albums as duo include “Exposed” in 1971, “Valerie Simpson” in 1972, “Gimme Something Real” in 1973, “Keep It Coming” in 1973, “I Wanna Be Selfish” in 1974, “Come as You Are” in 1976, “Send It” in 1977, “So So Satisfied” in 1977, “Is It Still Good to Ya” in 1978, “Stay Free” in 1979, “A Musical Affair” in 1980, “Performance” in 1981, “Street Opera” in 1982, “High Rise” in 1983, “Solid” in 1984, “Real Love” in 1986, “Solid Plus Seven” in 1987, “ Love or Physical” in 1989, “Capital Gold” in 1993, “Been Found” in 1996, “ The Very Best of Ashford & Simpson” in 2002 and “The Best of Ashford & Simpson” in 2007.
The duo records and writes for many compositions till today and are popular for the complete list of their compositions as singers. The duo have come a long way as their career has embarked huge success and fame.
TJ Grooves
Rare Soul Grooves & Soul Music TV
So really it was these guys who were behind the careers of the big Motown superstars, writing some of the biggest hits of the day. It just goes to show that its really a team effort between songwriters, singers, musicians, producers and the record company.
Are these couple still together? Not many relationships survive the pressure of show business. It would be wonderful to think that they have found the secret to a long and happy life together, making music that pleases and spending time by each others side.
I just read that they penned the lyrics to Amy Winehouses classic Tears Dry on their Own! Wow, how contemporary can you get. It says they based it on Ain’t No Mountain High Enough and it sure does have that kind of Motown feel. Love it.
Valerie and Nickolas brought a new level of sophistication to soul music in the 1960s, first with Ray Charles (”Let’s Go Get Stoned”) and later with Motown.
This real life couple is really a talented pair. It is amazing that they began their career by writing songs for some talented artists such as The Fifth Dimension, Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, and others. Their alliance with Joshie Jo Armstead proved to be instrumental for them as their career saw new developments after that. “One Step At A Time” and Never Had It So Good” became very popular after that.
“Let’s Go Get Stoned” is one of my favorite numbers. I just love this song and can hear it over and again. The US R&B charts got crazy with this song in the1960s. How can anyone or I forget “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”? Ashford & Simpson really became immensely popular after this track.
I am fond of all the songs by Ashford & Simpson. “Reach Out And Touch Somebody’ Hand”. “You’re All I Need To Get By” and “Remember Me”, make me go gaga. These singers cum writers are really very lucky to be born with such great talent. Thank you so much for entertaining us.
The Ashford & Simpson track record as composers of Motown-era classics like “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” and such gems performed on their own as “Found a Cure” and “Solid” looms large in the appeal of the Sugar Bar.
Their own stature long established, Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson are encouraging a new generation of songwriter/artists at the Sugar Bar, their restaurant/nightclub on New York’s Upper West Side.
When they first recorded they put out a track under the name Valerie and Nick - back in 1964 but it didn’t do well. It seems their luck changed when they switched to Ashford and Simpson however.
They are not only great singers and song writers but they have great souls.
Ashford and Simpson are much underrated songwriters and singers. They wrote just about all the Marvin & Tammi and many more other soul artists.
Valerie Simpson and Nickolas Ashford form a musical and talented pair and they are experts in the fields of singing as well as songwriting. This splendid combination of these talents has been responsible for making them famous. They are great when they work as a production and writing team for singers.
I love “Child Is The Father to the Man” by Simpson and Melba Moore. When
Simpson worked as a soloist for the songs “Bridge Over Troubled Water”, and “What’s Going On” I really became his bigger fan. I have to admit that the best song by the two of them is “Solid”.
Even today, this duo is very popular for their work. They are actively involved in many musical compositions today and the compositions that they create for other singers are flawless. The albums, which I feel are their best, are “Valerie Simpson”, “I Wanna Be Selfish”, “Exposed”, and “Keep It Coming”.
Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson both have two careers. They are great songwriters and even performers. Until the mid-1980s the career as songwriters was much more important that working as performers. The two came to know each other in the year 1964 and after two years they scored their first hit song Ray Charles.
They wrote the song “Let’s Go Get Stoned”, which was their first commercial success. After working with Scepter Records, they turned towards Motown and then they wrote big hits for the famous duo of Tammi Terrell and Marvin Gaye. Thus we have “Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing” and “You’re All I Need to Get By” after that.
When Diana Ross started her career as a single singer after leaving the Supremes Ashford & Simpson were the people behind writing “Reach Out and Touch Somebody’s Hand” for the singer. The sound turned out to be a super hit. “Don’t Cost You Nothing” is one of the memorable songs by them.
Let’s Go Get Stoned they wrote for Ray Charles, though, didn’t they? Or did they record it in their own right?
Ashford & Simpson has worked with several artists throughout their careers and even scored good successes with Gladys Knight, Ross, and Chaka Khan. Remember the song “I’m Every Woman”? Their career resurged in 1984 with the song Solid. It soon became the R&B number one. “Outta the World” and “Babies” were also very good.
Ray Charles and Aretha Franklin are only two of the artists they wrote songs for. How awesome are they? And they did it together. Their songs aren’t just very popular, they’re timeless.
“Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing” is a song that’s very much akin to an episode I went through in my past relationships.
Diana Ross’ “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” is one of those tunes that you can’t get out of your head. But not in a bad way. It puts me in a really good mood. When I’m in the office and stressed out, I hum it and things get done.
They’re excellent vocalists by the way. I can’t fathom why they didn’t gain as much success as the artists they wrote songs for.
“Bridge Over Troubled Water” was sung by Valerie Simpson. I get chills listening to it. It’s beautiful.
In the early 1970’s, they got married. They were already successful then as a duo. Romantic, right? Playing good music could have brought them together in a way that we commoners don’t get.
That they continue to be active and significant to this day is outstanding. Talent? Check. Luck? Check. Shrewdness? Check. Realism? Check.
They wrote “Tears Dry On Their Own” by no less than Amy Winehouse. I love that song even better than “Rehab.” More power to them and I hope there will be more collaborations in the future. Maybe with Rihanna??? *crossed fingers*
Either one or the other have been producing albums since 1971…the latest was in 2007. Their body of work is impressive. They’re writers, producers, singers, and performers.
Ashford & Simpson wrote “Reach Out and Touch Somebody’s Hand” for Diana Ross after she split from the Supremes. I believe she owes them a lot for that song. It was successful and surely, it opened doors for her.
In 1984, Ashford & Simpson released ‘Solid’ and their career as performers felt a serious push towards the top. They are more famous for being at the background and helping other artists out. ‘Solid’ marked another milestone for them.
I agree with BabyFace that Diana Ross’s career went to the top because of these two talented people known as Ashford & Simpson. They penned down “Reach Out and Touch Somebody’s Hand” for Ross and they were such big hits. She surely had a good voice but the songwriters were equally talented.
Yes, they are very impressive. It is not easy to find people belonging to the music industry who are good singers, writers, performers, and producers. Their collaboration with and work for Diana Ross was brilliant. I agree with the others that her career took a different turn because of the duo.
What is impressive is that artists like these guys are usually buried behind the scenes, yet Ashford and Simpson have had careers in their own right. They must be a storehouse of knowledge having worked in all aspects of the business - wow!
Did you know they are releasing a DVD and CD on Jan 27th 2009 - and that its gonna be a live in concert recording called Ashford and Simpson The Real Thing.
The 80s were universally panned for their atrocious styles in fashion and music, but certain songs stand out and last the test of time. Some of those songs are Ashford and Simpsons - like Solid as a Rock. It has seen several incarnations and even if it does the rounds now as a karaoke fave, it still has that nostalgic sweetness.