Legendary Motown singer/songwriter Nick Ashford, one half of duo Ashford & Simpson, died a few weeks from complications with throat cancer.
Responsible for some of music’s biggest hits along with wife Valerie Simpson, the 70 year old elegant and soulful icon, was laid to rest at a moving service in Harlem, NY and remembered by many including Lenny Kravitz, Sean Kingston, Phylicia Rashad , S. Epatha Merkerson and Roberta Flack who performed a rendition of her hit, ‘The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face.’
Very seldom does a duo come around like that of Ashford & Simpson, partners in life and music who enriched so many of our lives with their classic and infectious songs ‘Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,’ ‘Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing,’ and ‘Solid As A Rock’ or as they so sang over two years ago when I was lucky enough to see them at NYC’s Feinsteins, ‘Solid as Barack.!’
The two also founded nightlife hot spot Sugar Bar on NY’s Upper West Side known for great live music and delish food. www.sugarbarnyc.com