I know I'll be showing my age with this post (oh well!), but I was truly saddened to hear of Nick Ashford's death from throat cancer at age 70.
He and his wife, Valerie Simpson, were such tremendous songwriters, and their music pretty much framed my childhood: 'Ain't No Mountain High Enough', 'I'm Every Woman', 'Solid', 'Ain't Nothing Like the Real thing' and this classic:
It may be dated (can you say 80s?), but you can't let go how AMAZING this song is (and truly what singers today are gonna have this much talent at in their 40s, like these megatalents were when the video was made?) and if you don't get goosebumps, then you're not feelin the love from the music.
And to me that's is exactly what there music was about- LOVE. They were married for 38 years. Yes, in the midst of show business, they made it 38 years! Can you imagine not only being married, but working with your spouse for that long? THAT is love!
I saw them at the Kool Jazz Fest in New Orleans in high school (back when it was truly a mind blowing assortment of acts), and on stage they brought you to your feet and shared their love with you. Everyone was on their feet and their set was more rousing than the more famous headliners (Smokey Robinson and Quincy Jones)! They made a believer out of me that night about how universal their lyrics and music were.
So RIP Nick, your talent is not forgotten....
He and his wife, Valerie Simpson, were such tremendous songwriters, and their music pretty much framed my childhood: 'Ain't No Mountain High Enough', 'I'm Every Woman', 'Solid', 'Ain't Nothing Like the Real thing' and this classic:
It may be dated (can you say 80s?), but you can't let go how AMAZING this song is (and truly what singers today are gonna have this much talent at in their 40s, like these megatalents were when the video was made?) and if you don't get goosebumps, then you're not feelin the love from the music.
And to me that's is exactly what there music was about- LOVE. They were married for 38 years. Yes, in the midst of show business, they made it 38 years! Can you imagine not only being married, but working with your spouse for that long? THAT is love!
I saw them at the Kool Jazz Fest in New Orleans in high school (back when it was truly a mind blowing assortment of acts), and on stage they brought you to your feet and shared their love with you. Everyone was on their feet and their set was more rousing than the more famous headliners (Smokey Robinson and Quincy Jones)! They made a believer out of me that night about how universal their lyrics and music were.
So RIP Nick, your talent is not forgotten....
So sad. I remember loving the 'Solid' video on MTV. I didn't know they were married for so long...wow...
ReplyDelete@Yona
ReplyDeleteI know! You could tell in person they truly cared for one another!