Motown Tickets

Nickolas Ashford, one half of the legendary Motown husband and wife song-writing duo Ashford & Simpson has died at the age of 70 from throat cancer.

Nick Ashford and wife Valerie Simpson whose relationship stretched over four decades after meeting in New York at church in 1964 wrote some of the most memorable hits of all time for the likes of Ray Charles, Marvin Gaye and Diana Ross.

The pair were behind classics 'I'm Every Woman' for Chaka Khan and later Whitney Houston, 'Reach Out And Touch Somebody's Hand' recorded by Ross, 'You're All I Need To Get By' made famous by Gaye and Tammi Terrell and 'Ain't No Mountain High Enough' which was originally their hit.

More recently the pair received a song writing credit on Amy Winehouse's 'Tears Dry On Their Own' for the use of 'Ain't No Mountain High Enough' and continued to perform.

The couple owned New York City restaurant 'Sugar Bar' which held showcases for new and established talent. Verdine White of Earth, Wind and Fire said, “They had magic, and that’s what creates those wonderful hits, that magic...Without those songs, those artists wouldn’t have been able to go to the next level.”

Ashford is survived by his wife and two daughters Nicole and Asia.