In Memory of Nick Ashford

The singer-songwriter is remembered at the BET Awards.

Nick Ashford: (5/4/41 – 8/22/11) - The music community lost a legend when Ashford died on August 22, 2011, in a New York City hospital after suffering from throat cancer. In a ceremony during BET Awards 2012, Nick Ashford was remembered for some of his contributions to music.(Photo: Shawn Ehlers/WireImage)

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Nick Ashford: (5/4/41 – 8/22/11) - The music community lost a legend when Ashford died on August 22, 2011, in a New York City hospital after suffering from throat cancer. In a ceremony during BET Awards 2012, Nick Ashford was remembered for some of his contributions to music.(Photo: Shawn Ehlers/WireImage)

Ashford & Simpson - Nick and Valerie met in 1963 at Harlem's White Rock Baptist Church. They later married and became one of R&B music's most successful husband and wife singer-songwriting tandems.

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Ashford & Simpson - Nick and Valerie met in 1963 at Harlem's White Rock Baptist Church. They later married and became one of R&B music's most successful husband and wife singer-songwriting tandems.

Diana Ross - In 1970, Motown looked no further than the songwriting talent of Ashford & Simpson when it was time to release Diana Ross's first solo single. "Reach Out and Touch (Somebody's Hand)" is one of Ross's most popular songs. They continued to work together, writing most of the songs on three of Ross's albums (Diana Ross, Surrender, and The Boss).(Photo: Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

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Diana Ross - In 1970, Motown looked no further than the songwriting talent of Ashford & Simpson when it was time to release Diana Ross's first solo single. "Reach Out and Touch (Somebody's Hand)" is one of Ross's most popular songs. They continued to work together, writing most of the songs on three of Ross's albums (Diana Ross, Surrender, and The Boss).(Photo: Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

Photo By Chris Jackson/Getty Images

Stevie Wonder - In 1986, Ashford & Simpson teamed up with Stevie Wonder for "Nobody Walks in L.A."(Photo: Richard E. Aaron/Redferns)

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Stevie Wonder - In 1986, Ashford & Simpson teamed up with Stevie Wonder for "Nobody Walks in L.A."(Photo: Richard E. Aaron/Redferns)

Guiding Light - In 1982, Ashford & Simpson appeared on the television soap opera Guiding Light.(Photo: CBS/Landov)

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Guiding Light - In 1982, Ashford & Simpson appeared on the television soap opera Guiding Light.(Photo: CBS/Landov)

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Solid - The biggest hit of the duo's career happened in 1984 with "Solid (As a Rock)." It topped the U.S. R&B charts, and peaked at No. 12 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles. It was also an international hit, and became the U.K.'s 16th best single of 1985.(Photo: Capitol Records)

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Solid - The biggest hit of the duo's career happened in 1984 with "Solid (As a Rock)." It topped the U.S. R&B charts, and peaked at No. 12 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles. It was also an international hit, and became the U.K.'s 16th best single of 1985.(Photo: Capitol Records)

Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell - "Like sweet morning dew..." Ashford & Simpson were also responsible for Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell's rhythmic ballad "You're All I Need to Get By." The song was later sampled for Method Man's version featuring Mary J. Blige.

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Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell - "Like sweet morning dew..." Ashford & Simpson were also responsible for Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell's rhythmic ballad "You're All I Need to Get By." The song was later sampled for Method Man's version featuring Mary J. Blige.

Let's Go Get Stoned - Ashford & Simpson gave Ray Charles a hit in 1966 when they penned the song "Let's Go Get Stoned." It was a big hit for the songwriting duo, who later that year joined the Motown family.(Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

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Let's Go Get Stoned - Ashford & Simpson gave Ray Charles a hit in 1966 when they penned the song "Let's Go Get Stoned." It was a big hit for the songwriting duo, who later that year joined the Motown family.(Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

"I'm Every Woman" - With an array of hits under their belt, Ashford & Simpson also worked with Chaka Khan in the late '70s. They are responsible for the classic song "I'm Every Woman," also performed by Whitney Houston.(Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

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"I'm Every Woman" - With an array of hits under their belt, Ashford & Simpson also worked with Chaka Khan in the late '70s. They are responsible for the classic song "I'm Every Woman," also performed by Whitney Houston.(Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Photo By Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Ain't No Mountain High Enough - Ashford & Simpson performed their classic "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" at the 22nd Annual ASCAP Pop Music Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, May 16, 2005. The song is a timeless hit that has been performed by many. Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell first performed it back in 1967, and later Diana Ross covered it in 1970. A cover of the song by Michael McDonald earned Ashford and Simpson a place among the most performed ASCAP pop songs of 2004.   (Photo: Chris Pizzello/Landov/Reuters)

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Ain't No Mountain High Enough - Ashford & Simpson performed their classic "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" at the 22nd Annual ASCAP Pop Music Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, May 16, 2005. The song is a timeless hit that has been performed by many. Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell first performed it back in 1967, and later Diana Ross covered it in 1970. A cover of the song by Michael McDonald earned Ashford and Simpson a place among the most performed ASCAP pop songs of 2004.   (Photo: Chris Pizzello/Landov/Reuters)

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Hall of Famers - In 2002, Ashford & Simpson were inducted into the Songwriter's Hall of Fame.(Photo: Chris Pizzello/Landov/Reuters)

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Hall of Famers - In 2002, Ashford & Simpson were inducted into the Songwriter's Hall of Fame.(Photo: Chris Pizzello/Landov/Reuters)

Lifetime of Love - Ashford & Simpson spent their personal and professional lives as a happy couple. They toured together and, in 1996, they opened a restaurant called The Sugar Bar. They were also a featured disc-jockey team on New York's KISS-FM radio station.(Photo: Michael A. Mariant/AP)

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Lifetime of Love - Ashford & Simpson spent their personal and professional lives as a happy couple. They toured together and, in 1996, they opened a restaurant called The Sugar Bar. They were also a featured disc-jockey team on New York's KISS-FM radio station.(Photo: Michael A. Mariant/AP)