Nick Ashford

My son always loved driving to his Westport piano teacher since we would  pass the huge Ashford/Simpson house on Cross Highway.  We would always scan the property hoping to catch a glimpse of him.  We were fans of the songs that he and his wife, Valerie Simpson, wrote and performed.

His death this August brought back those memories and others associated with his music.  Who can forget the inimicable Ain’t No Mountain High Enough and Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing that they wrote for Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell.  Their work idolized romantic yearnings and also demonstrated the inherent difficulties in maintaining a satisfying relationship.

They wrote and produced for Motown Records and were stellar performers.

Here they are performing Solid As A Rock (1984).