R&B Legend Nick Ashford Dies At 69

It's been a terrible day for the giants of songwriting. Nick Ashford, who with his wife Valerie Simpson wrote some of the most beloved pop songs in history, has died at the age of 69.

His longtime friend and former publicist Liz Rosenberg told The Associated Press that Ashford — who along with wife Valerie Simpson wrote some of Motown’s biggest hits — died Monday in a New York City hospital. He had been suffering from throat cancer and had undergone radiation treatment. Among the songs Ashford & Simpson penned are “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” "You’re All I Need To Get By” and “Reach Out And Touch Somebody’s Hand.” He is survived by his wife and two daughters.

Weirdly enough, just this weekend Father Tony and I had a long chat about Ashford & Simpson with the rest of the guys at Bear Hill in Central Park. We all agreed that we needed to visit their restaurant on the Upper West Side.