“Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing,” “Reach Out and Touch (Somebody’s Hand),” “I’m Every Woman,” “Solid (As a Rock)” and other era-defining tunes were written by Valerie Simpson and her husband, the late Nickolas Ashford, in a songwriting career that began in 1964 when they wrote Ray Charles’ classic “Let’s Go Get Stoned.”A flurry of hits written for Motown stars Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell as well as Diana Ross & The Supremes followed, then a switch to the Warner Brothers label led to writing for Gladys Knight, Chaka Khan, Quincy Jones, Luther Vandross, and Whitney Houston among many others. Simultaneously with their songwriting, in the early 1970s, Simpson and her husband launched a performing career, letting their passion as a couple ignite their stage shows. With Ashford’s passing in 2011, Simpson continues her solo career, releasing her most recent CD in June 2012
Thursday, January 31, 2013 8:30 PM
Lincoln Center, The Allen Room, Frederick P. Rose Hall at (Broadway at 60th St.), New York, NY 10023
Tickets, from $35 to $250 are available online at AmericanSongbook.org, by calling CenterCharge at 212-721-6500, at the Alice Tully Hall, Avery Fisher Hall Box Office, or at the Frederick P. Rose Hall Box Office`
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