Nick Ashford, half of the legendary musical duo Ashford & Simpson, died Monday (August 22) in a New York City hospital. The Motown singer/songwriter had undergone radiation treatment for throat cancer and was 70 years old.
His former publicist and friend, Liz Rosenberg, broke the news to the Associated Press.
Perhaps best known for the 1984 single “Solid (As a Rock)” with his wife and partner, Valerie Simpson, the duo also wrote some of Motown’s biggest hits including “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” and “You’re All I Need to Get By”, not to mention a plethora of other hits including “I’m Every Woman”, “Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing” and more! The couple, who were married for 38 years, have two daughters.
Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.
Rest in peace Ashford! You were one of the greatest singer-songwriters ever.
I just paid $22.87 for an iPad 2 64 GB and my girlfriend loves her Panasonic
Lumix GF 1 Camera that we got for $38.76 there arriving tomorrow by UPS. I will
never pay such expensive retail prices in stores again. Especially when I also
sold a 40 inch LED TV to my boss for $674 which only cost me $62.81 to buy. Here
is the website we use to get it all from, HitPenny.c/o-m
I’m very saddened by the news, cancer doesn’t discriminate, you can be white, black, indian, asian, blue, green, purple, anyone can get cancer. I grew up listening to them when I was a kid, all the motown singers. R.I.P. Nick Ashford sing in the heavens with Marvin, MJ, Teddy, Issac, Sam Cooke. Farewll
Rest In Peace. We just lost some true talent.
Was he 69 or 70? Different news outlets say different things. In any case, i had the pleasure of meeting him a few months ago. Very nice man.
R.I.P. Nick.
ahhhh soooo sorry to hear…I just uttered his name yesterday wowww RIP and thank you for sharing your anazing gift with us !!!
Nick Ashford (As well as his lovely wife Valerie)comes from an entirely different mindset, pedigree and era of singer/songwriter/entertainer. Married for 38 years? Enjoyed a family life that’s intact while lasting so long in the music industry? Never in the spotlight for drama and buffoonery? What gives?
Maybe the so called drugged out, jailbound, promiscuous Illuminati soul selling watered down interchangeable so called celebrities of the present day can learn a thing or do about how to really do it big!
I’m speaking the truth and I know for sure that at this very moment half of us are humming “Solid As A Rock” right now and for the next few days after hearing of this great man’s passing!
Rest In Peace Nick Ashford,
You example of manhood is class personified!
If I grew up without your gifts to the world my childhoof just would NOT have been the same!
Lance Scurv
http://www.LanceScurv.com
very sad news, RIP!
I’m really sitting here hurt. I think black ppl have a family like connection to our artist. Because when one artist dies you can really feel it, being that you lived your life to their music, cooking, cleaning, sex, traveling you name it. That silver dress Valerie had on was BANGING.
I have to laugh at my own ignorance, for I knew they were songwriters and knew they wrote Solid (As A Rock) but had no idea the magnitude of classics the duo penned. Now I see why they were so celebrated and respected. Amazing talent. Thank you Mr. Ashford and Mrs. Simpson.
Here are a few words that I had to share on the passing of Nick Ashford that I just uploaded to YouTube:
http://youtu.be/IXV9v2Z9k5k
Enjoy…….
Scurv
this is weird actually…i woke up this morning thinking, “i feel like someone important in our musical lives has passed on,” and then i read this…RIP.
but you gotta admit…he looked great for 70!
R.I.P to the Great Nick Ashford. i had my television on the whole night so i heard it while i was sleep but i wasn’t sure if i was dreaming or not! sadly it was true. rest in peace brotha, blessings goes out to your beautiful wife and 2 daughters
My heart goes out to the family. I have loved both Nick and Valarie since I first heard their songs. I have been a longtime fan and I am sadden by the news. Family keep looking up from whence all of our help comes. God loves you.
Rest In Paradise and condolensces to Valerie Simpson.
Rest In Peace Nick
my prayers go out to the family. him and his wife were unseparable, i can only imagine the grief she feels from being separated. back in the day they were like my mom and dad performing. R.I.P.
I’m sadden by this. May he rest in peace. His family will be in my prayers.
This is such sad news to hear. They were such a force to be reckoned with. Married for 38 years. Now that is Solid Like A Rock. @Lance you said it perfectly. We are probably from the same generation. Where people actually sang about something and had something intelligent to say lyrically.
RIP Nick Ashford…so sad to hear this news.
OMG!! His poor wife and children… So sorry to hear this.
Wow, I can remember singing with the brush in my hand in the living room “IS IT STILL GOOD TO YOU” I had no clue what the song was about till I got grown! lol
RIP Mr. Ashford, I will always enjoy your music!
Rest in peace Brother !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I called my auntie to tell her and she screamed….NO OMG
She said thats when music was music…RIP my KING
R.I.P.
I am so sad – so sad. Just saw them in San Francisco in May and he came into the audience and shook my hand. I feel like I just lost a family member. Nick I will miss your lyrics! Val, hang in there, you have the faith to do so. OMG, I can’t believe this. Nick – thank you for your music. Your number one fan!
I just paid $22.87 for an iPad2-64GB and my girlfriend loves her Panasonic Lumix GF 1 Camera that we got for $38.76 there arriving tomorrow by UPS. I will never pay such expensive retail prices in stores again. Especially when I also sold a 40 inch LED TV to my boss for $675 which only cost me $62.81 to buy. Here is the website we use to get it all from, HitPenny.çom
Rest In Peace Nick Ashford!! You will forever be in our hearts!! May God grant your soul eternal peace!!
well god has allow us to have such great people. and the goodness they show as a couple in their music. we needed them with the guide of music to give to the people. this was a couple of greatness within and GOd allow us to enjoy his greatness. we will never have another like MR.NICK ASKFORD. HE has found a cure. now GOD has fix it . NO more pain in this life. you have given me and the world all the blessing GOD given in music. MRS. V. JESUS is with you . Jesus will comfort you and the family. thank-you for all the blessing in music that u 2 wrote. i grew up to good music. love u. everyone in this new life of music, just go back and play their music and u can feel the love they had in the words. R.I.P Nick Ashford Donna C.