Happy birthday to Valerie Simpson, born 26th August 1946.
Age 18, a fateful meeting with Nickolas Ashford in 1964 led to a lifelong partnership, both in marriage and as songwriters, until Nickolas' passing in 2011.
Too many classics to fit in here, not least their work with Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell, Diana Ross and Chaka Khan, but I've included one of each, a few other oft-covered gems, plus two big songs from their own recordings.
What a talent.
1) I'll Find You: Valerie & Nick (1964)
2) The Real Thing: Betty Everett (1965)*
3) Let's Go Get Stoned: The Coasters (1965)*
4) Ain't No Mountain High Enough: Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell (1967)
5) Reach Out and Touch (Somebody's Hand): Diana Ross (1970)
6) Bourgié Bourgié: Ashford & Simpson (1977)
7) Clouds: Chaka Khan (1980)
8) Solid: Ashford & Simpson (1984)
* co-written with Jo Armstead
