Responsible for penning some of the great Motown gems, Ashford & Simpson's songs
became big hits for icons such as Diana Ross, Marvin Gaye and Chaka Khan.
Nickolas Ashford grew up in Willow, Michigan and started writing songs for the
local Baptist choir in his teens before heading to Harlem with the intention of
becoming a dancer. He fell on hard times though, and was homeless by 1964 when
he found his way to the White Rock church looking for a free meal and befriended
17-year-old music student Valerie Simpson. Simpson had been playing the piano
from the age of five and was a reg...