Nick Ashford
Actor
- Born
- May 4, 1941 · Fairfield, South Carolina, USA
- Died
- August 22, 2011 (age 70)
Nickolas Ashford (May 4, 1941 – August 22, 2011) was an American R&B singer and songwriter, best known for his musical partnership with his wife Valerie Simpson as the duo Ashford & Simpson.
He was born in Fairfield, South Carolina, and raised in Ypsilanti, Michigan, where he began singing and writing music in a church gospel choir. After briefly attending Eastern Michigan University, he moved to New York to pursue a career in entertainment. In 1964, he met Valerie Simpson in Harlem, and the two began writing songs together.
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Their breakthrough came when Ray Charles recorded “Let’s Go Get Stoned,” leading to a contract with Motown in 1966, where they became successful songwriters and producers. Ashford and Simpson later married in 1974 and continued to work together as performers and composers.
Ashford died on August 22, 2011, in New York at the age of 70 after battling throat cancer.
Known for
New Jack City
March 8, 1991
Live Aid
July 13, 1985
Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever
May 16, 1983
Night of 100 Stars II
March 10, 1985
Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute
June 11, 1988
Magic Night
May 1, 1980
Motown 40: The Music Is Forever
February 15, 1998
The Tammi Terrell Story
September 20, 2010
Michael McDonald & Doobie Brothers Live on Soundstage
February 1, 2004
Queens of Disco
March 6, 2007
Acting11
- 2010The Tammi Terrell Story
- 2007Queens of Disco as Self
- 2004Michael McDonald & Doobie Brothers Live on Soundstage as vocals
- 1998Motown 40: The Music Is Forever as Self
- 1991New Jack City as Reverend Oates
- 1988Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute as Self [Ashford & Simpson]
- 1986An All-Star Celebration Honoring Martin Luther King Jr.
- 1985Live Aid as Self
- 1985Night of 100 Stars II as Self
- 1983Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever