Motown Writer Nick Ashford Dies at 70

Posted on: August 23rd, 2011 at 9:22 am by

Sad news came over the wire last night.  One half of the legendary Ashford-Simpson Motown songwriting partnership, Nick Ashford, passed away Monday from a long bout with throat cancer.  He was 70.  Along with wife Valerie Simpson, the team penned some of the most iconic songs in the last fifty years.  Hits like “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” and “Reach Out & Touch Somebody’s Hand.”

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The two of them together also owned and operated Sugar Bar on the Upper West Side, an awesome joint definitely worth the trip.  Especially for the open mic night on Thursdays, where the pair could often be seen mingling.  The weekly event is like seeing a concert, since participants are generally enormously gifted, giving each song their all.  Intimidating.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xz-UvQYAmbg

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