Songwriter and Performer Nick Ashford Has Died

Songwriter Nick Ashford has died from complications related to throat cancer, according to published reports. He was 70.

Ashford, with wife Valerie Simpson, wrote such Motown classics as “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” “Reach Out And Touch Somebody’s Hand,” “You’re All I Need To Get By,” and “I’m Every Woman,” which were recorded by such artists as Diana Ross, Marvin Gaye, Chaka Khan, Ray Charles, and Tammi Terrell. Among their recent successes has been Amy Winehouse’s “Tears Dry on Their Own.”

As Ashford & Simpson, they also scored numerous successes writing for themselves, perhaps most famously with “Solid As A Rock,” and have performed in recent years at Sugar Bar, a restaurant they co-owned, as well as such cabaret venues as Feinstein’s at Loews Regency.

In addition to their pop music work, they contributed two songs to the film version of the musical The Wiz: “Can I Go On Not Knowing?” and “Is This What Feeling Gets?”

In 2002, Ashford & Simpson were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Ashford is survived by his wife and two daughters.