{{Short description|American songwriting and recording duo}} {{Use mdy dates|date=August 2014}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Ashford & Simpson | image = Ashford_and_Simpson.jpg | landscape = yes | caption = Ashford & Simpson in 2000 | alias = | origin = New York City, U.S. | genre = {{hlist|[[Rhythm and blues|R&B]]|[[Soul music|soul]]|[[funk]]|[[disco]]|[[Gospel music|gospel]]}} | occupation = | years_active = 1964–2011 | label = {{hlist|[[Motown Records|Motown]]|[[Warner Bros. Records|Warner Bros.]]|[[Capitol Records|Capitol]]}} | website = }}
'''Ashford & Simpson''' were an American husband-and-wife songwriting, production and recording duo composed of Nickolas Ashford (May 4, 1941 – August 22, 2011)<ref>Associated Press, [https://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-nick-ashford-20110824-story.html "Nick Ashford of Ashford & Simpson songwriting team dies at 70"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140905161116/http://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-nick-ashford-20110824-story.html |date=September 5, 2014}}. ''Los Angeles Times'', August 24, 2011. ''All Music Guide to Soul: The Definitive Guide to R&B and Soul'', Vladimir Bogdanov, Chris Woodstra, Stephen Thomas Erlewine. Backbeat Books, 2003, {{ISBN|978-0-87930-744-8}} (p. 17)</ref> and Valerie Simpson (born August 26, 1946).<ref>{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p3578|pure_url=yes}}|title=Biography: Ashford & Simpson|last=Ruhlmann|first=William |website=Allmusic|access-date=April 16, 2010}}</ref>
Ashford was born in [[Fairfield County, South Carolina|Fairfield, South Carolina]], and Simpson in the [[Bronx]], [[New York City]]. Ashford's family relocated to [[Ypsilanti, Michigan]], where he became a member of Christ Temple Baptist Church. While there, he sang with a group called the Hammond Singers (named after the founding minister, James Hammond). Later, Ashford attended and graduated from [[Willow Run High School]] in Ypsilanti, Michigan, before pursuing his professional career, when he would ultimately meet his wife, Valerie Simpson. They met at [[Harlem]]'s White Rock Baptist Church in 1964. After having recorded unsuccessfully as a duo, they joined an aspiring solo artist and former member of [[The Ikettes]], [[Jo Armstead|Joshie Jo Armstead]], at the Scepter/Wand label, where their compositions were recorded by [[Ronnie Milsap]] ("Never Had It So Good") and [[Maxine Brown (soul singer)|Maxine Brown]] ("One Step at a Time"), as well as [[The Shirelles]], [[The Guess Who]], and [[Chuck Jackson]]. Another of the trio's songs, "[[Let's Go Get Stoned (Ray Charles song)|Let's Go Get Stoned]]", gave [[Ray Charles]] a number one U.S. R&B hit in 1966. That same year, Ashford and Simpson joined [[Motown]], where their best-known songs included "[[Ain't No Mountain High Enough]]", "[[You're All I Need to Get By]]", "[[Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing]]", and "[[Reach Out and Touch (Somebody's Hand)]]." Ashford and Simpson wrote many other hit songs, including [[Chaka Khan]]'s "[[I'm Every Woman]]" (1978) and "Is It Still Good to Ya?", originally recorded by the duo in 1978 and covered by [[Teddy Pendergrass]] in 1980.
As performers, Ashford & Simpson's best-known duets are "[[Solid (Ashford & Simpson song)|Solid]]" (1984) and "[[Found a Cure (Ashford & Simpson song)|Found a Cure]]" (1979). The duo was inducted into the [[Songwriters Hall of Fame]] in 2002. They are also recipients of [[The Rhythm & Blues Foundation]]'s Pioneer Award, [[ASCAP]] Founders Award, and the [[Grammy Trustees Award|Grammy Trustee Award]].<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=https://www.grammy.com/awards/trustee-awards|title=Trustees Award|website=Recording Academy Grammy Award |date=October 18, 2010 }}</ref><ref name=":1">{{cite web|url=http://www.ascap.com/eventsawards/awards/founders/index.aspx|title=ASCAP Founders Award|website=ascap.com|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140704022746/http://www.ascap.com/eventsawards/awards/founders/index.aspx|archive-date=July 4, 2014|df=mdy-all}}</ref> ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' ranked them No. 19 on its list of the 20 Greatest Duos of All Time.<ref>{{Cite magazine|date=2015-12-17|title=20 Greatest Duos of All Time|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/20-greatest-duos-of-all-time-16272/|access-date=2020-09-05|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US}}</ref>
Nick Ashford was also an occasional actor, having appeared as Reverend Oates in the 1991 movie ''[[New Jack City]]''.
==Career== ===Songwriters=== {{see also|List of songs written by Ashford & Simpson}} The duo essentially had two careers: one as a successful writing and producing team and the other as singers and performers themselves. They started their career in the mid-1960s, writing for artists such as [[the 5th Dimension]] ("[[California Soul]]"), [[Aretha Franklin]] ("Cry Like a Baby"), and [[Ray Charles]] ("[[Let's Go Get Stoned (R&B song)|Let's Go Get Stoned]]").<ref name="LarkinSM">{{cite book|title=[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music|The Guinness Who's Who of Soul Music]]|editor=[[Colin Larkin (writer)|Colin Larkin]]|publisher=[[Guinness Publishing]]|date=1993|edition=First|isbn=0-85112-733-9|pages=9/10}}</ref> Their work with Charles brought them to the attention of [[Motown]] chief [[Berry Gordy]].<ref name="LarkinSM"/>
Upon joining the Motown staff in 1966, Ashford & Simpson were paired with the vocal duo [[Marvin Gaye]] and [[Tammi Terrell]], and they wrote and/or produced all but one of the late-1960s Gaye/Terrell singles, including hits such as the original version of "[[Ain't No Mountain High Enough]]", "[[Your Precious Love]]", "[[Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing]]", and "[[You're All I Need to Get By]]".<ref name="LarkinSM"/> According to Gaye in the book ''Divided Soul'', Simpson did most of the vocals on the last album he did with Terrell, ''[[Easy (Marvin Gaye/Tammi Terrell album)|Easy]]'', as a way for Terrell's family to have additional income, as she was battling an ultimately fatal brain tumor. Though Louvain Demps, singer of [[the Andantes]], has stated that she saw Terrell recording the album, Simpson is quoted as saying, in a book written by Terrell's sister Ludie Montgomery, what they saw was her singing the guide tracks for the album, which were later replaced by Tammi's own vocals.
Ashford & Simpson wrote and produced almost all the songs on three 1970s albums for former [[The Supremes|Supreme]] [[Diana Ross]], including her first solo album ''[[Diana Ross (1970 album)|Diana Ross]]'' ("[[Reach Out and Touch (Somebody's Hand)]]")<ref>George-Warren, Holly and Patricia Romanowski. ''The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll.'' NY: Touchstone, 2001, p. 29.</ref> and "Ain't No Mountain High Enough", ''[[Surrender (Diana Ross album)|Surrender]]'' ("[[Remember Me (Diana Ross song)|Remember Me]]"), and ''[[The Boss (Diana Ross album)|The Boss]]''.<ref name="LarkinSM"/> All three albums were critically acclaimed with ''[[Diana Ross]]'', her 1970 album debut, and ''The Boss'' being certified platinum and "Surrender" certified gold.
Other Motown artists whom Ashford & Simpson worked with include [[Gladys Knight & the Pips]] ("Didn't You Know You'd Have to Cry Sometime", and after Motown they wrote and produced for this group "Landlord", "Bourgie, Bourgie", and "Taste of Bitter Love"), [[The Miracles|Smokey Robinson & the Miracles]] ("Who's Gonna Take the Blame"), [[Syreeta Wright]] ("I Can't Give Back the Love I Feel for You"), [[the Marvelettes]] ("Destination: Anywhere"), [[Martha and the Vandellas|Martha Reeves and the Vandellas]] ("Tear It On Down" and "It Ain't Like That"), [[the Dynamic Superiors]] ("Shoe, Shoe Shine"), [[Blinky Williams]] ("I Wouldn't Change the Man He Is"), and [[the Supremes]] with the [[Four Tops]] (original duets, plus the production of a hit cover of [[Phil Spector]]'s "River Deep-Mountain High").
Other artists with whom Ashford & Simpson had hits were [[Teddy Pendergrass]] ("Is It Still Good to Ya"), [[the Brothers Johnson]] ("Ride-O-Rocket"), [[Stephanie Mills]] ("Keep Away Girls"), [[Ace Spectrum]] ("Don't Send Nobody Else') and [[Chaka Khan]], both on her own ("[[I'm Every Woman]]" and "Clouds"), and with [[Rufus (band)|Rufus]] ("Keep It Comin'" and "[[Ain't Nothin' But a Maybe]]").
===Performers=== Ashford & Simpson's career as recording artists began in the early 1960s as part of the gospel group the Followers, with whom they recorded the album ''Gospel Meeting'' (on Forum Circle), later issued as ''Meetin' The Followers'' (on [[Roulette Records]]). The LP contains their vocals and also four Ashford compositions. In 1964, they recorded "I'll Find You", as "Valerie & Nick". That was followed by several obscure singles recorded by Ashford on the Glover, [[Verve Records|Verve]] and [[ABC Records|ABC]] labels, such as "It Ain't Like That" (not the same song as they would later write for Martha Reeves and the Vandellas), "[[California Soul]]", and "[[Dead End Kids]]", backed by his own version of "[[Let's Go Get Stoned (R&B song)|Let's Go Get Stoned]]".
Simpson appeared (with [[Melba Moore]]) as part of the "[[Blood, Sweat & Tears]] Soul Chorus" on the band's debut album ''[[Child Is Father to the Man]]'' in 1968. After concentrating on working with other artists, Simpson was the featured soloist on the songs "[[Bridge Over Troubled Water (song)|Bridge Over Troubled Water]]" and "[[What's Going On (song)|What's Going On]]" on the [[Quincy Jones]] albums ''Gula Matari'' in 1970, and its follow-up, ''Smackwater Jack''.
Simpson subsequently recorded two solo LPs for [[Motown]]: ''Exposed'' in 1971, and, the following year, ''Valerie Simpson'', which included the single "Silly, Wasn't I". In 1973, they left Motown after the albums Simpson recorded for the label received poor promotion, and the company refused to release an album of the duo recording a collection of their most famous songs for other artists.
[[File:Ashford & Simpson, New York Amsterdam News 1977 12 17 pg31.jpg|thumb|alt=Ashford & Simpson circa 1977|Ashford & Simpson {{circa|1977}}]] Ashford and Simpson married after resuming their career as a duo<ref name="LarkinSM"/> and would go on to have two daughters.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bellenews.com/2011/08/23/arts-culture/nick-ashford-of-legendary-duo-ashford-simpson-dies-at-69/|title=Nick Ashford of legendary duo Ashford & Simpson dies at 69|date=August 23, 2011|publisher=BelleNews|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120217000916/http://www.bellenews.com/2011/08/23/arts-culture/nick-ashford-of-legendary-duo-ashford-simpson-dies-at-69/|archive-date=February 17, 2012|access-date=August 23, 2011|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wesleyan.edu/alumni/aoc/newsletter/3/dwightgreene.html|title=The Tenth Annual Dwight L. Greene Symposium|date=October 19, 2002|work=Alumni of Color Network – Fall 2002 Newsletter Vol. 3 No. 1|publisher=Wesleyan University|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721095350/http://www.wesleyan.edu/alumni/aoc/newsletter/3/dwightgreene.html|archive-date=July 21, 2011|access-date=August 23, 2011|df=mdy-all}}</ref> In 1973, [[Warner Records|Warner Bros.]] released their first duo album titled ''Gimme Something Real''. This was followed in 1974 by ''I Wanna Be Selfish''. In 1975, Simpson sang backing vocals on [[Paul Simon]]'s [[List of Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles of 1976|number-one hit]] "[[50 Ways to Leave Your Lover]]", and in 1976 they released ''Come As You Are''. 1977 saw the release of two albums – ''So So Satisfied'' and ''[[Send It (album)|Send It]]''. This was followed by the hit singles "Send It", "Don't Cost You Nothin'" (1977), "It Seems To Hang On" (1978), "Is It Still Good To Ya" (1978), "Found a Cure" (1979), "Street Corner" (1982), and their biggest hit, "[[Solid (Ashford & Simpson song)|Solid]]", released in 1984.<ref name="LarkinSM"/>
In 1978, they were featured as vocalists along with [[Chaka Khan]], on the hit single "[[Stuff Like That]]" from [[Quincy Jones]]' ''[[Sounds...and Stuff Like That!!]]'' album and contributed to the writing of the [[The Wiz (soundtrack)|soundtrack to ''The Wiz'']].
In 1986, the duo appeared as themselves in "[[The Equalizer (1985 TV series) season 2#ep24|Nocturne]]", an episode of the popular television series ''[[The Equalizer (1985 TV series)|The Equalizer]]'', where they performed their hit single "Count Your Blessings" from their ''[[Real Love (Ashford & Simpson album)|Real Love]]'' album.
On his own, Ashford (along with [[Frank Wilson (musician)|Frank Wilson]]) produced the hit "[[I'm Gonna Make You Love Me]]", which [[Diana Ross & the Supremes]] recorded in collaboration with [[the Temptations]] in 1968. He also appeared in the movie ''[[New Jack City]]'' (1991), as Reverend Oates, an ordained minister who was part of Nino Brown's entourage.
Simpson's brothers were in the record business as well: [[Ray Simpson]] replaced [[Victor Willis]] in [[Village People|the Village People]] and their brother Jimmy Simpson produced the group [[GQ (band)|GQ]] (which had big hits with "[[Disco Nights (Rock-Freak)]]" and "[[I Do Love You (Billy Stewart song)|I Do Love You"]]), and was in great demand as a mixing engineer during the [[disco]] era.
===Recent years and Ashford's death=== In latter times, Ashford & Simpson recorded and toured sporadically, and in 1996, they opened a restaurant and live entertainment [[Music venue|venue]], Sugar Bar in New York City, with an [[open mic]] on Thursday nights, where performers included [[Queen Latifah]], [[Vickie Natale]] and [[Felicia Collins]]. Ashford & Simpson recorded the album ''Been Found'' with poet [[Maya Angelou]] in 1996.<ref>Jessica Letkemann, [https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6099398/maya-angelou-music-history-ashford-simpson-calypso-album-listen "Maya Angelou's Life in Music: Ashford & Simpson Collab, Calypso Album & More (Listen)"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140913190342/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6099398/maya-angelou-music-history-ashford-simpson-calypso-album-listen |date=September 13, 2014 }}, ''Billboard'', May 28, 2014.</ref> Around that time, they were also featured disc jockeys on New York radio station [[WRKS]].
On August 16, 2006, ''[[Playbill Online]]'' reported that they were writing the score for a musical based on [[E. Lynn Harris]]'s novel ''[[Invisible Life]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.playbill.com/news/article/101441.html |title=Ashford & Simpson to Debut Songs from Invisible Life Musical at Feinstein's |first= Andrew|last= Gans|publisher=Playbill.com |date=August 16, 2006 |access-date=February 21, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090113152446/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/101441.html |archive-date=January 13, 2009 }}</ref>
Ashford died at the age of 70 in a New York City hospital on August 22, 2011, four days before Valerie Simpson's 65th birthday, of complications from [[throat cancer]]. His [[publicist]], Liz Rosenberg, said that he had undergone [[radiation therapy]] to treat his illness.<ref>{{cite web |author=[[Nekesa Mumbi Moody]], Associated Press |title=Songwriter Nick Ashford dies; had throat cancer |url=https://www.bet.com/article/dptdtf/songwriter-nick-ashford-dies-had-throat-cancer |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903112102/http://www.bet.com/news/national/2011/08/23/songwriter-nick-ashford-dies-had-throat-cancer.html |archive-date=September 3, 2014 |publisher=BET |df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Nick Ashford, of Motown Writing Duo, Dies at 70|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/23/arts/music/nick-ashford-of-motown-writing-duo-dies-at-70.html?_r=0|author=Ben Sisario|newspaper=New York Times|date=August 22, 2011|access-date=April 3, 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140410174252/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/23/arts/music/nick-ashford-of-motown-writing-duo-dies-at-70.html?_r=0|archive-date=April 10, 2014|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
Simpson released a solo album in June 2012, called ''Dinosaurs Are Coming Back Again'', which also featured the last recorded performance of [[Nina Simone]], a second duet with [[Roberta Flack]] and an instrumental version of "[[Ain't No Mountain High Enough]]".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/Dinosaurs-Are-Coming-Back-Again/dp/B0086PGOBA|title=Dinosaurs Are Coming Back Again|website=Amazon.com|access-date=May 28, 2025}}</ref>
In May 2014, Simpson was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Music from [[Berklee College of Music]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ascap.com/playback/2014/04/action/valerie-simpson-to-receive-honorary-music-degree-from-berklee.aspx|title=Valerie Simpson to Receive Honorary Music Degree from Berklee|website=ascap.com|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221015133/https://www.ascap.com/playback/2014/04/action/valerie-simpson-to-receive-honorary-music-degree-from-berklee.aspx|date=April 30, 2014|archive-date=December 21, 2016|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
== Awards and nominations == In 1969, Ashford and Simpson won three [[BMI Awards]] for the songs "Ain't No Mountain High Enough," "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing," and "Your Precious Love."<ref>{{Cite magazine|date=April 16, 1969|title=BMI Awards to 58 R&B Writers|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/60s/1969/Billboard%201969-04-26.pdf|magazine=Billboard}}</ref>
Ashford and Simpson were inducted into the [[Songwriters Hall of Fame]] in 2002. They were also recipients of [[The Rhythm & Blues Foundation]]'s Pioneer Award in 1999, and [[ASCAP]]'s highest honor, the Founders Award, which they received in 1996.<ref name=":1" />
Simpson was inducted among the inaugural honorees to the [[Women Songwriters Hall of Fame]] in 2021.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2021/06/the-women-songwriters-hall-of-fame-has-honored-its-first-class-of-inductees|author= Diop, Arimeta|title=The Women Songwriters Hall of Fame Has Honored Its First Class of Inductees|newspaper=[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]]|date=June 29, 2021}}</ref>
=== Grammy Awards === Ashford and Simpson were nominated for three Grammy Awards.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/artists/ashford-and-simpson|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190823065514/https://www.grammy.com/grammys/artists/ashford-and-simpson|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 23, 2019|title=Ashford and Simpson|website=Recording Academy Grammy Awards}}</ref> In 2019, they received the [[Grammy Trustees Award]].<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/awards/8510388/ashford-and-simpson-songwriting-teams-recording-academy-trustees-award|title=Ashford & Simpson Will Be the 11th Songwriting Team to Receive the Recording Academy's Trustees Award|last=Grein|first=Paul|date=May 7, 2019|magazine=Billboard|access-date=2019-11-16}}</ref><ref name=":0" />
{{awards table}} |- | 1985 | Ashford And Simpson | [[Grammy Award for Best Music Video|Best Video, Short Form]] | {{nom}} |- | 1986 | ''Solid'' | [[Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals|Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal]] | {{nom}} |- | 1987 | ''Real Love'' | Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal | {{nom}} {{end}}
==Discography== ===Studio albums=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" |- ! rowspan="2"| Year ! rowspan="2"| Album ! colspan="9"| Peak chart positions ! rowspan="2"| [[Music recording sales certification|Certifications]] ! rowspan="2"| Record label |- style="font-size:smaller;" ! style="width:35px;"| [[Billboard 200|US]]<br><ref name="billboard">{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/ashford-simpson/chart-history|title=US Charts > Ashford & Simpson|publisher=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|access-date=2020-01-11}}</ref> ! style="width:35px;"| [[Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums|US<br>R&B]]<br><ref name="billboard"/> ! style="width:35px;"| [[Ö3 Austria Top 40|AUT]]<br><ref name="aut">{{cite web|url=http://austriancharts.at/artist/Ashford_Simpson|title=AUT Charts > Ashford & Simpson|publisher=[[Ö3 Austria Top 40]]|access-date=2016-02-08|url-status=live|archive-url=http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20160209043727/http://austriancharts.at/artist/Ashford_Simpson|archive-date=February 9, 2016|df=mdy-all}}</ref> ! style="width:35px;"| [[RPM (magazine)|CAN]]<br><ref name="can">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/list.aspx?OCRText=ashford&|title=CAN Charts > Ashford & Simpson|magazine=[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]|access-date=2016-02-07}}</ref> ! style="width:35px;"| [[Media Control Charts|GER]]<br><ref name="ger">{{cite web|url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/|title=GER Charts Search > Ashford & Simpson|publisher=[[GfK Entertainment Charts]]|access-date=2016-02-08|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150531083511/https://www.offiziellecharts.de/|archive-date=May 31, 2015|df=mdy-all}}</ref> ! style="width:35px;"| [[MegaCharts|NLD]]<br><ref name="nld">{{cite web|url=http://dutchcharts.nl/artist/Ashford_Simpson|title=NLD Charts > Ashford & Simpson|publisher=[[MegaCharts]]|access-date=2016-02-08|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160219203942/http://dutchcharts.nl/artist/Ashford_Simpson|archive-date=February 19, 2016|df=mdy-all}}</ref> ! style="width:35px;"| [[Recording Industry Association of New Zealand|NZ]] <br /><ref name="nz">{{cite web|url=https://charts.nz/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Ashford+%26+Simpson|title=NZ Charts > Ashford & Simpson|publisher=[[Recording Industry Association of New Zealand]]|access-date=2016-02-07|df=mdy-all}}</ref> ! style="width:35px;"| [[Swiss Hitparade|SWI]]<br><ref name="swi">{{cite web|url=http://hitparade.ch/artist/Ashford_Simpson|title=SWI Charts > Ashford & Simpson|publisher=[[Swiss Music Charts]]|access-date=2016-02-08|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160428120341/http://hitparade.ch/artist/Ashford_Simpson|archive-date=April 28, 2016|df=mdy-all}}</ref> ! style="width:35px;"| [[UK Albums Chart|UK]]<br><ref name="uk">{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/17254/ashford-and-simpson/|title=UK Charts > Ashford & Simpson|publisher=[[Official Charts Company]]|access-date=2016-02-04|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160222015634/http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/17254/ashford-and-simpson/|archive-date=February 22, 2016|df=mdy-all}}</ref> |- || 1973 | style="text-align:left;"| ''Gimme Something Real'' | 156 | 18 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | align=left| | rowspan="8"| [[Warner Bros. Records|Warner Bros.]] |- || 1974 | style="text-align:left;"| ''I Wanna Be Selfish'' | 195 | 21 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | align=left| |- || 1976 | style="text-align:left;"| ''Come as You Are'' | 189 | 35 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | align=left| |- | rowspan="2"| 1977 | style="text-align:left;"| ''So So Satisfied'' | 180 | 30 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | align=left| |- | style="text-align:left;"| ''[[Send It (album)|Send It]]'' | 52 | 10 | — | 53 | — | — | — | — | — | align=left| * [[Recording Industry Association of America|RIAA]]: Gold<ref name="riaa">{{cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&se=Ashford+%26+Simpson#search_section|title=US Certifications > Ashford & Simpson|publisher=[[Recording Industry Association of America]]|access-date=2016-02-04|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160204195033/http://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&se=Ashford+%26+Simpson#search_section|archive-date=February 4, 2016|df=mdy-all}}</ref> |- || 1978 | style="text-align:left;"| ''[[Is It Still Good to Ya]]'' | 20 | 1 | — | 43 | — | — | — | — | — | align=left| * [[Recording Industry Association of America|RIAA]]: Gold<ref name="riaa"/> |- || 1979 | style="text-align:left;"| ''[[Stay Free (album)|Stay Free]]'' | 23 | 3 | — | 71 | — | — | — | — | — | align=left| * [[Recording Industry Association of America|RIAA]]: Gold<ref name="riaa"/> |- || 1980 | style="text-align:left;"| ''A Musical Affair'' | 38 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | align=left| |- || 1982 | style="text-align:left;"| ''Street Opera'' | 45 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | align=left| | rowspan="5"| [[Capitol Records|Capitol]] |- || 1983 | style="text-align:left;"| ''[[High-Rise (Ashford & Simpson album)|High-Rise]]'' | 84 | 14 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | align=left| |- || 1984 | style="text-align:left;"| ''[[Solid (Ashford & Simpson album)|Solid]]'' | 29 | 1 | 13 | 47 | 11 | 25 | 17 | 15 | 42 | align=left| * [[Recording Industry Association of America|RIAA]]: Gold<ref name="riaa"/> |- || 1986 | style="text-align:left;"| ''[[Real Love (Ashford & Simpson album)|Real Love]]'' | 74 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | align=left| |- || 1989 | style="text-align:left;"| ''[[Love or Physical]]'' | 135 | 28 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | align=left| |- || 1996 | style="text-align:left;"| ''Been Found'' | — | 49 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | align=left| || Hopsack & Silk |- | colspan="15" style="font-size:90%" | "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. |}
===Live albums=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" |- ! rowspan="2"| Year ! rowspan="2"| Album ! colspan="2"| Peak chart positions ! rowspan="2"| Record label |- style="font-size:smaller;" ! style="width:35px;"| [[Billboard 200|US]]<br><ref name="billboard"/> ! style="width:35px;"| [[Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums|US<br>R&B]]<br><ref name="billboard"/> |- || 1981 | style="text-align:left;"| ''Performance'' | 125 | 45 || [[Warner Bros. Records|Warner Bros.]] |- || 2009 | style="text-align:left;"| ''The Real Thing'' | — | 59 || [[Burgundy Records|Burgundy]] |- | colspan="15" style="font-size:90%" | "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. |}
===Compilation albums=== *''The Best of Ashford & Simpson'' (1993, [[Capitol Records|Capitol]]) *''Capitol Gold: The Best of Ashford & Simpson'' (1996, Capitol) *''The Gospel According to Ashford & Simpson: Count Your Blessings'' (1996, [[EMI Records|EMI]]) *''The Very Best of Ashford & Simpson'' (2002, [[Warner Bros. Records|Warner Bros.]]/[[Rhino Entertainment|Rhino]]) *''The Warner Bros. Years: Hits, Remixes & Rarities'' (2008, Rhino) *''Love Will Fix It: The Warner Bros. Records Anthology 1973-1981'' (2018, Groove Line)
===Singles=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" |- ! rowspan="2"| Year ! rowspan="2"| Single ! colspan="10"| Peak chart positions ! rowspan="2"| [[Music recording sales certification|Certifications]] ! rowspan="2"| Album |- style="font-size:smaller;" ! style="width:35px;"| [[Billboard Hot 100|US]]<br><ref name="billboard"/> ! style="width:35px;"| [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|US<br>R&B]]<br><ref name="billboard"/> ! style="width:35px;"| [[Hot Dance Club Songs|US<br>Dan]]<br><ref name="billboard"/> ! style="width:35px;"| [[Ö3 Austria Top 40|AUT]]<br><ref name="aut"/> ! style="width:35px;"| [[RPM (magazine)|CAN]]<br><ref name="can"/> ! style="width:35px;"| [[Media Control Charts|GER]]<br><ref name="ger"/> ! style="width:35px;"| [[MegaCharts|NLD]]<br><ref name="nld"/> ! style="width:35px;"| [[Recording Industry Association of New Zealand|NZ]] <br /><ref name="nz"/> ! style="width:35px;"| [[Swiss Hitparade|SWI]]<br><ref name="swi"/> ! style="width:35px;"| [[UK Singles Chart|UK]]<br><ref name="uk"/> |- | rowspan="3"| 1964 | style="text-align:left;"| "I'll Find You" {{ref label|Note1|A|A}} | 117 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | align=left| | align=left rowspan="3" {{N/A}} |- | style="text-align:left;"| "Don't You Feel Sorry" {{ref label|Note1|A|A}} | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | align=left| |- | style="text-align:left;"| "It Ain't Like That" {{ref label|Note1|A|A}} | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | align=left| |- || 1973 | style="text-align:left;"| "(I'd Know You) Anywhere" | 88 | 37 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | align=left| | style="text-align:left;" rowspan="2"| ''Gimme Something Real'' |- | rowspan="3"| 1974 | style="text-align:left;"| "Have You Ever Tried It" | — | 77 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | align=left| |- | style="text-align:left;"| "Main Line" | — | 37 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | align=left| | style="text-align:left;" rowspan="2"| ''I Wanna Be Selfish'' |- | style="text-align:left;"| "Everybody's Got to Give It Up" | — | 53 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | align=left| |- || 1975 | style="text-align:left;"| "Bend Me" | — | 73 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | align=left| | style="text-align:left;"| ''Gimme Something Real'' |- | rowspan="4"| 1976 | style="text-align:left;"| "It'll Come, It'll Come, It'll Come" | — | 96 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | align=left| | style="text-align:left;" rowspan="3"| ''Come as You Are'' |- | style="text-align:left;"| "Somebody Told a Lie" | — | 58 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | align=left| |- | style="text-align:left;"| "One More Try" | — | — | 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | align=left| |- | style="text-align:left;"| "Tried, Tested and Found True" | — | 52 | 34 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | align=left| | style="text-align:left;" rowspan="3"| ''So So Satisfied'' |- | rowspan="3"| 1977 | style="text-align:left;"| "So So Satisfied" | — | 27 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | align=left| |- | style="text-align:left;"| "Over and Over" | — | 39 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | align=left| |- | style="text-align:left;"| "Send It" | — | 15 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | align=left| | style="text-align:left;" rowspan="3"| ''Send It'' |- | rowspan="5"| 1978 | style="text-align:left;"| "Don't Cost You Nothing" | 79 | 10 | 23 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 58{{Efn|Chart position is from the official UK "Breakers List".|name=fn2|group=upper-alpha}} | align=left| |- | style="text-align:left;"| "By Way of Love's Express" | — | 35 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | align=left| |- | style="text-align:left;"| "[[Stuff Like That]]" <small>(with [[Quincy Jones]] & [[Chaka Khan]])</small> {{ref label|Note2|B|B}} | 21 | 1 | — | — | 23 | — | 24 | — | — | 34 | align=left| | style="text-align:left;"| ''[[Sounds...and Stuff Like That!!]]'' |- | style="text-align:left;"| "It Seems to Hang On" | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 48 | align=left| | style="text-align:left;" rowspan="3"| ''Is It Still Good to Ya'' |- | style="text-align:left;"| "Is It Still Good to Ya" | — | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | align=left| |- | rowspan="4"| 1979 | style="text-align:left;"| "Flashback" | — | 70 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | align=left| |- | style="text-align:left;"| "[[Found a Cure (Ashford & Simpson song)|Found a Cure]]" | 36 | 2 | rowspan="3"| 1 | — | 65 | — | 37 | — | — | — | align=left| | style="text-align:left;" rowspan="3"| ''Stay Free'' |- | style="text-align:left;"| "Nobody Knows" | — | 19 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | align=left| |- | style="text-align:left;"| "Stay Free" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | align=left| |- | rowspan="2"| 1980 | style="text-align:left;"| "Love Don't Make It Right" | — | 6 | 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | align=left| | style="text-align:left;" rowspan="3"| ''A Musical Affair'' |- | style="text-align:left;"| "Happy Endings" | — | 35 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | align=left| |- | rowspan="3"| 1981 | style="text-align:left;"| "Get Out Your Handkerchief" | — | 65 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | align=left| |- | style="text-align:left;"| "It Shows in the Eyes" | — | 34 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | align=left| | style="text-align:left;" rowspan="2"| ''Performance'' |- | style="text-align:left;"| "It's the Long Run" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | align=left| |- | rowspan="2"| 1982 | style="text-align:left;"| "Street Corner" | 56 | 9 | 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | align=left| | style="text-align:left;" rowspan="3"| ''Street Opera'' |- | style="text-align:left;"| "Love It Away" | — | 20 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | align=left| |- | rowspan="3"| 1983 | style="text-align:left;"| "I'll Take the Whole World On" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | align=left| |- | style="text-align:left;"| "High-Rise" | — | 17 | 41 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | align=left| | style="text-align:left;" rowspan="3"| ''High-Rise'' |- | style="text-align:left;"| "It's Much Deeper" | — | 45 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | align=left| |- | rowspan="2"| 1984 | style="text-align:left;"| "I'm Not That Tough" | — | 78 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | align=left| |- | style="text-align:left;"| "[[Solid (Ashford & Simpson song)|Solid]]" | 12 | 1 | 15 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | align=left| * [[British Phonographic Industry|BPI]]: Gold<ref name="bpi">{{cite web|url=https://www.bpi.co.uk/brit-certified/|title=UK Certified Awards Search > Ashford & Simpson|publisher=[[British Phonographic Industry]]|access-date=2012-02-08}}</ref> * [[Music Canada|MC]]: Gold<ref name="mc">{{cite web|url=https://musiccanada.com/gold-platinum/?_gp_search=Ashford%20%26%20Simpson|title=CAN Certifications > Ashford & Simpson|work=Music Canada |date=April 1985 |publisher=[[Music Canada]]|access-date=2012-02-08}}</ref> | style="text-align:left;" rowspan="3"| ''Solid'' |- | rowspan="2"| 1985 | style="text-align:left;"| "Outta the World" | 102 | 4 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | align=left| |- | style="text-align:left;"| "Babies" | 102 | 29 | — | — | — | 53 | — | — | — | 56 | align=left| |- | rowspan="2"| 1986 | style="text-align:left;"| "Count Your Blessings" | 84 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 79 | align=left| | style="text-align:left;" rowspan="3"| ''Real Love'' |- | style="text-align:left;"| "What Becomes of Love" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | align=left| |- | style="text-align:left;"| 1987 | style="text-align:left;"| "Nobody Walks in L.A." | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | align=left| |- | rowspan="2"| 1989 | style="text-align:left;"| "I'll Be There for You" | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | align=left| | style="text-align:left;" rowspan="2"| ''Love or Physical'' |- | style="text-align:left;"| "Cookies and Cake" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | align=left| |- || 1990 | style="text-align:left;"| "Hungry for Me Again" | — | 40 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | align=left| | style="text-align:left;"| ''Def by Temptation'' |- || 1996 | style="text-align:left;"| "Been Found" | — | 80 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | align=left| | style="text-align:left;" rowspan="2"| ''Been Found'' |- || 1997 | style="text-align:left;"| "What If" | — | 94 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | align=left| |- || 2001 | style="text-align:left;"| "[[We Are Family (song)|We Are Family]]" <small>(with Various Artists)</small> | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | align=left| | align=left rowspan="1" {{N/A}} |- | colspan="15" style="font-size:90%" | "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. |} * {{note label|Note1|A|A}}Singles credited to Valerie & Nick * {{note label|Note4|B|B}}Ashford & Simpson and Khan sang uncredited co-lead vocals on "Stuff Like That"
===Solo recordings=== ====Valerie Simpson==== Listed below are solo recordings made by Valerie Simpson.
=====Albums===== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" |- ! rowspan="2"| Year ! rowspan="2"| Album ! colspan="2"| Peak chart positions ! rowspan="2"| Record label |- style="font-size:smaller;" ! style="width:35px;"| [[Billboard 200|US]]<br><ref name="billboard1">{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/valerie-simpson/chart-history|title=US Charts > Valerie Simpson|publisher=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|access-date=2020-01-11}}</ref> ! style="width:35px;"| [[Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums|US<br>R&B]]<br><ref name="billboard1"/> |- || 1971 | style="text-align:left;"| ''Exposed'' | 159 | 30 | rowspan="2"| [[Motown Records|Tamla]] |- || 1972 | style="text-align:left;"| ''Valerie Simpson'' | 162 | 50 |- || 2012 | style="text-align:left;"| ''Dinosaurs Are Coming Back Again'' | — | — || Hopsack & Silk |- | colspan="15" style="font-size:90%" | "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. |}
=====Singles===== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" |- ! rowspan="2"| Year ! rowspan="2"| Single ! colspan="2"| Peak chart positions ! rowspan="2"| Album |- style="font-size:smaller;" ! style="width:35px;"| [[Billboard Hot 100|US]]<br><ref name="billboard1"/> ! style="width:35px;"| [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|US R&B]]<br><ref name="billboard1"/> |- || 1971 | style="text-align:left;"| "Can't It Wait Until Tomorrow" | — | — | style="text-align:left;"| ''Exposed'' |- || 1972 | style="text-align:left;"| "Silly Wasn't I" | 63 | 24 | style="text-align:left;"| ''Valerie Simpson'' |- | colspan="15" style="font-size:90%" | "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. |}
====Nick Ashford==== Listed below are solo recordings made by Nick Ashford.
=====Singles===== *1966: "I Don't Need No Doctor" *1967: "When I Feel the Need" *1968: "California Soul" *1970: "Dead End Kids"
==See also== *[[List of Number 1 Dance Hits (United States)]] *[[List of artists who reached number one on the US Dance chart]]
==References== {{notelist-ua}} {{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}
==External links== * [https://web.archive.org/web/20111011015546/http://songwritershalloffame.org/exhibits/C324 Nickolas Ashford Profile] and [https://web.archive.org/web/20111011003546/http://songwritershalloffame.org/index.php/songs/detailed/C324/ Nickolas Ashford Song Catalog] at [https://web.archive.org/web/20110823131017/http://songwritershalloffame.org/ Songwriters Hall of Fame] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20120211101729/http://www.songwritershalloffame.org/exhibits/C325 Valerie Simpson Profile] and [https://web.archive.org/web/20120319223908/http://songwritershalloffame.org/songs/detailed/C325 Valerie Simpson Song Catalog] at [https://web.archive.org/web/20110823131017/http://songwritershalloffame.org/ Songwriters Hall of Fame] * [http://www.warr.org/ashfordsimpson.html Ashford and Simpson information site] * {{Discogs artist|Ashford & Simpson}} * {{IMDb name|3167188}}
{{Ashford & Simpson}} {{Authority control|additional=auto}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Ashford and Simpson}} [[Category:African-American musical duos]] [[Category:African-American singer-songwriters]] [[Category:American rhythm and blues singer-songwriters]] [[Category:Musical duos from New York (state)]] [[Category:Musical groups established in 1964]] [[Category:Motown artists]] [[Category:Family musical groups]] [[Category:American rhythm and blues musical groups]] [[Category:American disco groups]] [[Category:American dance music groups]] [[Category:Disco duos]] [[Category:Male–female musical duos]] [[Category:Rhythm and blues duos]] [[Category:Record production duos]] [[Category:American songwriting teams]] [[Category:Musical married couples]] [[Category:Rak Records artists]] [[Category:Record producers from New York (state)]] [[Category:Singer-songwriters from New York (state)]] [[Category:People from Ypsilanti, Michigan]] [[Category:Singer-songwriters from Michigan]] <!-- put categories for an individual, for example year of birth, on the individual's redirect page -->[[Category:Warner Records artists]] [[Category:Capitol Records artists]]