Nick Ashford Rip

what sad loss again, RIP Nick Ashford.

It really has come as a shock as I had no idea he was ill, both his solo and co written output produced some of the greatest soul music ever, sadly missed,

RIP Nick

another great.

rest inpeace nick

youre a star

As mentioned no idea he was ill? Sad loss to music.

RIP.

Nick Ashford of Ashford and Simpson were such a massive influence on me when collecting

Black Music in the 60s & 70s. 'It Seems To Hang On' - pure class!

R.I.P and condolences to his family and friends

Dr Bob Jones

A great loss of a major songwriting talent who along with his "old lady" Valerie Simpson, wrote some fantastic tunes.

It would be interesting if we could compile a list of their compositions.

I'll start with "Aint no Mountain High enough" and the brilliant "Top of the Stairs"

By the way, did A&S ever record Top of the Stairs? (I'm presuming that they weren't Collins and Collins, something I've always wondered about !)

Andy

A great loss, 70 is no age. He had throat cancer I believe, my dad died from that last year....the poor man, he must have really suffered.

The weird thing is I was cleaning out the record room just yesterday and I came across a picture sleeve of "Solid" that I bought as a child-complete with my name in biro on the label... They don't make em like Nick anymore,never again will anybody produce such genius as ANMHE.

R.I.P Nick.

Sad news, but nice to see that The BBC put it in their news bulletin this morning on radio 4.

Very sad news indeed - what a talented writer and performer!

RIP Nick. Along with Valarie, one the best songwriters ever. So many classics over the years recorded by them and other artists from their Motown era, disco classics and 80s soul.

PS. RIP to Jerry Lieber too.

By the way, did A&S ever record Top of the Stairs? (I'm presuming that they weren't Collins and Collins, something I've always wondered about !)

Andy

Yes they did.

Its on the 'Send It' LP.

And its superb.

RIP Nick Ashford.

Sean

Just having done a quick search on my iTunes library, I hadn't realised that Val & Nick wrote:

Ain't That Good Enough - John Edwards / Garland Green

You Better Be Good - Peggy Woods

Mr Creator - The Apollas

Love Woke Me Up - Loleata Holloway

8 min Hot Tracks Re-Mix of 'Flashback

Just having done a quick search on my iTunes library, I hadn't realised that Val & Nick wrote:

Ain't That Good Enough - John Edwards / Garland Green

You Better Be Good - Peggy Woods

Mr Creator - The Appollas

Love Woke Me Up - Loleata Holloway

I believe he also wrote & released " When I Feel The Need" on Verve. Great version.

RIP Nick Ashford

Sad news, R.I.P

Sad news, but nice to see that The BBC put it in their news bulletin this morning on radio 4.

Yep, heard it on BBC Radio 2 as well Dave in Moira Stewarts news bulletin on Chris Evans show.

Rightfully so too, the guy was a very talented man

There are no words. Not only did I learn from them, their songs were the background music to the best times of my life. Two of the coolest people you would ever want to meet and Ashford was the definition of 'cool'. I had no idea that Ashford was ill. What a shock. My condolences to Valerie and the family.

Lorraine Chandler

What sad news. Ashford and Simpson-a soundtrack to my life...RIP Nick Ashford.

Very sad, RIP Nick Ashford

A brilliant writer who will be missed.

I'll Find You is one of my all-time favorite 45s in my collection. RIP nick.

Another giant takes his leave of us. In amongst all the stuff on Libya and the fall of Gadaffi is this:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-14627670

very sad, talent all the way. i'll post one of my faves (along with Mr Creator)

One of the greatest of the great !

How many incredible and beautiful songs he and Valerie wrote that brought nothing but joy to millions of people.

The music will Live On forever Nick !!!!

RIP Nick condolences to his wife & family

he may be gone but will never be forgotten

The man's talent will be sadly missed by us all in our world.

His contribution was enormous in his writing and co-writing abilities. The guy pretty much stands head and shoulder's above all with his prolific output of consistantly amazing tunes he was involved in.

People with talent like this are just not around anymore. A huge loss to not just us but the world.

Sleep well Nick.

Eddie

Extremely Sad News

Another Of The Greats Gone.

Nick Ashford R.I.P.

Following the sad news of Nick Ashford's death yesterday I've reposted a Hidden Gems show from last July when he and Valerie were my featured act at taylorws.podomatic.com. I'll be doing an hour-long tribute on www.fcumradio.co.uk on Thursday September 1st at 9.30pm.

Very sad news. The words legend and genius are used a lot and usually for the wrong people, but Nick Ashford was a songwriting genius and a true legend. Without him soul music would have been/will be a lot poorer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_P9gmpk3iI

R I P NICK ASHFORD

GUTTED WHEN I HEARD THE NEWS ON THE WAY BACK FROM MANCHESTER AIRPORT AT 2AM THIS MORNING ON RADIO 2 ALONG WITH JERRY LEIBER

BAD WAY TO FINISH A FORTNIGHTS HOLS IN LANZAROTE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWSuRXQAil8

Sad to hear about Nick Ashford.

Ashford & Simpson were great composers, very innovative (at the time) with their beautiful and intricate melodies.

What a sad week for music. First Jerry Leiber, now Nick Ashford.

He and Valerie wrote some of the best songs of all time. And by all accounts, he was a lovely man, which isn't always the case with such great talent .

Their daughter Asia just tweeted a picture of the plaque on the NYC bench where Nick slept when he first arrived and was homeless, which made me shed a few tears.

Condolences to Valerie, his daughters, family and friends.

So thankful that we will always have his music.

RIP

Wendy xx

RIP. Without doubt one of THE great songwriters of our music, the list really is endless.

Best wishes to family and friends.

Jim.

Very Sad news, RIP Sir.....

Another great track is "Get out your handkerchiefs"

Andy

Underrated and understated the talent of Ashford and Simpson agree with all the comments above, my favourite track must be "It seem to hang on" But don't forget The brilliant "I'm every woman" soul with the commercial appeal RIP Nick sad news indeed

Rob

RIP, very sad news indeed

I believe he also wrote & released " When I Feel The Need" on Verve. Great version.

RIP Nick Ashford

Just like to thank you for posting this track, its awesome, have'nt heard it before.

Such a sad loss, thanks for the music...

RIP Nick

regards

Paul

Very sad news, not only are Nick & Valerie great song writers, they are

great singers as well, R.I.P. Nick Ashford, my mate Glenn Hunter will

be bothering you for an autograph, cheers Jim.

Very sad news, so many Great songs.

One of my favourites

" Count your Blessings"

RIP

Tony

I echo everything thats been said already, sad news indeed.

RIP and thanx for the tunes sir

Very Sad Loss Indeed and Mr Leiber a Sad Week

Will be on the Decks tonight

R.I.P. Nick Ashford

god bless you and your family at this very sad time. your music will be played forever on the soul scene

love sam

Gutted, I loved this duo as many people will remember me boring them over the years with this, featured on front page of my one off fanzine back in 84. He was probably not as prominent as Valerie but boy could he sing. Their concert at Birmingham a couple of years back was as good as any I have seen, Nick was as good as I have heard vocally and together they were perfections.

Just gutted, RIP beautiful man

Just sorting a few boxes of 45s in the loft, came across at least 20 Ashford + Simpson compositions, I thanked Nick for each one, I hope everyone on here who is DJ'ing this weekend includes a A+S track, I know I will play one at Wakefield on Sunday.

RIP

BH

A private memorial service for Nick Ashford has now been rescheduled for Monday but may be postponed again due to the hurricane.

A mutual friend told me that Valerie is obviously devastated by Nick's death but is getting a lot of support from her friends.

And it was Valerie's birthday yesterday.

August Bank Holiday 28/08/11 - ORIGINAL MASTERCUTS Ashford & Simpson Special Tribute Show!

Following the sad news of Nicholas Ashford’s passing away last week, we’re doing an ORIGINAL MASTERCUTS Ashford & Simpson bank holiday special which will feature two hours of wonderful music from the last 4 decades, all of which involved Nick Ashford & Valerie Simpson in different capacities, whether as solo and duet artists or writers, producers and arrangers. It’s a breath-taking look at a pair of careers that stretched from the mid 60’s to February 2011. The fact that Val Simpson met Nick Ashford on a park bench when he was down and out in New York simply adds to the mythology of two of the greatest songwriters of all time.

I had the pleasure working with Val & Nick in the early 80’s when I promoted “Solid” for Capitol/EMI and watched it become a smash in the UK. I hooked up with them again in 2007 when I interviewed them before their last UK gig at the Luxury Soul Weekender in Birmingham and, as always, it was a pleasure. Val was very prim and proper, sat very gracefully and formally in a table chair and allowed me to commence the interview. Nick was sprawled out on the sofa with legs akimbo and a huge grin on his face. He laughed like a hyena throughout the interview, especially when I asked Val what inspired the lyrics to “Let’s Go Get Stoned”, their first bona fide hit with Ray Charles. I’m trying to dig the interview out because it was great so I’ll post up when I get my hands on it! RIP Nick!

Anyway, this show will be a perfect soundtrack to a bank holiday weekend, so if you’re around then try and join me and the rest of the gang this Sunday afternoon LIVE for 2 hours of pure Soul pleasure!

Six Million Steps Presents The Original Mastercuts Show LIVE with Ian Dewhirst between 2.00-4.00pm on Sunday 28th August 2011 on everyone’s favourite Soul station www.starpointradio.com.

Featuring……

Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell * Diana Ross * Ashford & Simpson * Terry Lavell * The Braxtons * Ashford & Simpson * Marlena Shaw * Garland Green * Valerie & Nick * Marvin Gaye * The Marvelettes * The Four Tops * Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell * Collins & Collins * Ace Spectrum * Teddy Pendergrass * Valerie Simpson * Diana Ross * 6th Borough Project * Ashford & Simpson

Ian D

Very sad

I was lucky enough to see them at Birmingham, great performance, & when they sang "Top of the Stairs" Wow!! (I'm sure they said they'd never performed it in front of an audience before, but I could be wrong)

Goodnight & godbless Mr Ashford, and thank you for the songs x