MUSICAL PASSAGES

DJ August 24, 2011

2 2 minutes read

Spread The Love

NICK ASHFORD

I had the pleasure of being in the company of Nick Ashford and Valerie Simpson (better known as the R&B singing/songwriting duo “Ashford and Simpson’) on numerous occasions over the years. Today, I have special reason to treasure those times and memories.

Nick Ashford passed away Tuesday, after battling throat cancer. As a cancer survivor myself, I fully understand the battle he was in and I am heartbroken that it is a battle he did not win.

Ashford and Simpson

Being around Nick was an amazing joy. Once you got past the fact that this was the genius who wrote “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” for Diana Ross, “You’re All I Need To Get By” for Marvin Gaye, and “I’m Every Woman” for Chaka Kahn, you were able to see him for the incredible human being and distinguished man that he was. Nick was tall, slender, energetic, handsome, and surprisingly youthful to be 70-years-old. He was also soft spoken, with a constant smile and a kind word for everyone. But let’s not underplay the truth: along with his wife Valerie, Nick Ashford was a MUSICAL GIANT who helped shape the entire Motown sound and provided us with a classic sound and memorable lyrics that remain a huge part of music to this day.

Rest in Peace, Nick. You left an immense and incredible legacy that will forever be cherished. Job well done. You will be deeply missed!

*******

JERRY LEIBER

“You Ain’t Nothin’ But a Hound Dog,” “Jailhouse Rock,” “Poison Ivy,” “Love Potion #9.” These were just a few of the hits of songwriter Jerry Leiber, who also passed away Tuesday at the age of 78.

What Nick Ashford was to R&B, Jerry Leiber was to Rock and Roll. Leiber and his writing partner Mike Stoller wrote dozens of bonafide hits for such stars as Elvis Presley, Peggy Lee, Big Mama Thornton and others. They were both inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1985 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987. And in the mid-90’s their music was even celebrated in the Broadway show “Smokey Joe’s Cafe,” which continues to play in theaters throughout the world.

Leiber and Stoller

Jerome Leiber was born in 1933 in Baltimore, the son of a widow who ran a grocery store on the edge of the ghetto, who was the only storekeeper in the area to extend credit to blacks. His musical influences were varied from Cole Porter to Irving Berlin. But it was his upbringing around black culture that helped shape his musical style.

Rest in Peace, Jerry — and thanks for the memories!

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DJ August 24, 2011

2 2 minutes read

<span>Nick Ashford & Valerie Simpson. Need anyone say more!?! Two musical GIANTS and class-acts. No question about it. But I would be remissed if I didn't take this opportunity to give a major SHOUT OUT to my parents for passing on to us (their 4 children) an absolute LOVE for, and appreciation of, MUSIC. My mother trained in classical music (piano) for 12 yrs from age 7 to about age 20. She married my father at age 23 and they had their 1st child 2 yrs later. My sibs and I grew up listening to hours of her playing works from Beethoven, Bach and Mozart..to..George & Ira Gershwin (Porgy & Bess), Walter Gross (Tenderly) and Burton Lane & E.Y. Harburg (How Are Things In Glocca Morra), etc. AND for years she was the one of the chief pianists in our church…a Pentacostal church, where Black gospel music jumps off the pews…lol. My maternal grandmother was a huge fan of the likes of Clara Ward, Mahalia Jackson and James Cleveland. My dad was/is a secular music man so after after he'd get home from work (AND mom was through playing the piano) the stereo wascranked up. From Sam cooke, The Temptations, Smokey & the Miracles and Curtis Mayfrield …to Stevie Wonder, Marvin gaye, Otis Redding, Sam Cooke, Wilson Picket, Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross & The Supremes, etc. Then of couse each of us (my sibs and I) grew up to expand on that rich foundation with artists We loved of OUR childhood, from Earth Wind & Fire to Luther Vandross et al. But back to Ashford & Simpson… Though quite young when introduced to the music of Ashford & Simpson my young ears knew GENIUS when I heard it! They were/are among the many artists with REAL talent whose body of work is part of My music library, ALWAYS timely NEVER OUTDATED, MAGIC to the ears and FOOD for the Soul! My thoughts and prayers go out to Nick's partner-in-life AND music, Valerie, and to their 2 daughters. R.I.P Nick. R.I.P. Jerry</span>

2 Comments

Truthiz says:

August 24, 2011 at 10:50 AM

<span>Nick Ashford & Valerie Simpson. Need anyone say more!?! Two musical GIANTS and class-acts. No question about it. But I would be remissed if I didn't take this opportunity to give a major SHOUT OUT to my parents for passing on to us (their 4 children) an absolute LOVE for, and appreciation of, MUSIC. My mother trained in classical music (piano) for 12 yrs from age 7 to about age 20. She married my father at age 23 and they had their 1st child 2 yrs later. My sibs and I grew up listening to hours of her playing works from Beethoven, Bach and Mozart..to..George & Ira Gershwin (Porgy & Bess), Walter Gross (Tenderly) and Burton Lane & E.Y. Harburg (How Are Things In Glocca Morra), etc. AND for years she was the one of the chief pianists in our church…a Pentacostal church, where Black gospel music jumps off the pews…lol. My maternal grandmother was a huge fan of the likes of Clara Ward, Mahalia Jackson and James Cleveland. My dad was/is a secular music man so after after he'd get home from work (AND mom was through playing the piano) the stereo wascranked up. From Sam cooke, The Temptations, Smokey & the Miracles and Curtis Mayfrield …to Stevie Wonder, Marvin gaye, Otis Redding, Sam Cooke, Wilson Picket, Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross & The Supremes, etc. Then of couse each of us (my sibs and I) grew up to expand on that rich foundation with artists We loved of OUR childhood, from Earth Wind & Fire to Luther Vandross et al. But back to Ashford & Simpson… Though quite young when introduced to the music of Ashford & Simpson my young ears knew GENIUS when I heard it! They were/are among the many artists with REAL talent whose body of work is part of My music library, ALWAYS timely NEVER OUTDATED, MAGIC to the ears and FOOD for the Soul! My thoughts and prayers go out to Nick's partner-in-life AND music, Valerie, and to their 2 daughters. R.I.P Nick. R.I.P. Jerry</span>

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BD says:

August 24, 2011 at 1:07 PM

Well while your talking about it my family grew up with music always playing in the house. Saturday was the day us kids cleaned up the house and we got to play whatever music we wanted. That is when we lerned how to appreciate the music of Ashford and Simpson and all there hits. RIP to a gentle giant. He was music royalty and a class act.

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