An Evening With Valerie Simpson In Honor of Nick Ashford (Chicago 2011) 

When she sang "Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing " I started to cry. Because I know that their love was real.

The total package as writers, vocalists, musicians, and producers. They made it look easy, smart and beautiful, And it was all about love!

Valerie hasn't aged, she still looks great her Songs are Classics. God Bless😊

One of the best singing couples!

RIP Ms. Gwen Ifill and Nick Ashford

Thank You so much for letting me see this wonderful show in honor of Nick Ashford. I can feel the pain of Valerie Simpson. this made me cry because their LOVE was a rare find. God Bless you Valerie.

Valerie and Nick were so good together RIP NICK ASHFORD.

Valerie singing AIn't Nothing LIke the Real Thing was so moving. Theirs was truly a deep and abiding love. RIP Nick.

Loved loved Ashford & Simpson, they represented black love at its finest.

Nick and Valarie are the bomb, a long time ago I'd go to the nearby Sea Side Park in Bridgeport, CT with friends, and one day we saw Nick Ashford, we were so excited, we walked up to him and told him how much we enjoyed his music and he was so wonderful to us and gracious and so kind to us. He chatted with us and spoke to us and made us feel so important. I must have been about 16 or 17 years old at the time. He let us look at his Rose Royce, we had never come close to a car like that before. It was the best day ever, I'm way older now and I still remember that day. Thank you Nick for making a few run-of-the-mill kids feel great, you are the best!

This performance by Valerie, brings tears 😢 to my soul .... Ain't nothing like the real thing ....

This was real music back in the day ❤💯❤💯😘😘😘😗

This was the Greatest Team of all times, They wrote hit after hits for everyone they wrote for, You get a hit, you get a hit you get a hit🤗 Everything they touched went solid gold. And I really Love how they kept their relationships out of the tabloids. You never heard anything negative about this couple. Thank you for all the great songs you wrote as a team. Rest well Nick, God’s Blessings to you Valarie always.I know how it feels to live without your better half . But Got you 🙏🏾

Nick could pin point the heart of a woman. It's hard to believe he wrote the lyrics and she wrote the music to I'm Every Woman. Powerhouse duo!!! She said he asked her how to write about women & she said what do you want in a woman & he said you and he thought about her. She's 65 here & looks fabulous! I didn't know Nick is from my hometown. I love him even more.💖

These people were so good together!! Love. Ashford and Simpson forever

My heart can't handle all this wonderfulness and the excellence of black folks. Put this tribute down in the history books.

I think what people don’t realise is that the chords behind their music are pure gospel . Plain and simple ; gospel is the ROOT!

I almost felt like I knew Valerie Simpson and Nick Ashford personally...seeing as how l grew up with their music. The energy of that tribute traveled thru the cell phone waves straight to my heart! At times it had me crying like a baby! However, not particularly from sadness; but from the True REALITY of Love, Spirituality, and what this Life we each live is all about!!!!!! Like they said way back then in the 60's AIN'T NOTHING LIKE THE REAL THING!!!!! Whoever put this tribute together....THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!

Ain't no mountain high enough was Classic

Here 9/6/2021. Thoroughly enjoyed this!

i LOVE Valerie and NICK ~~~Kindred the Family Soul~~~ keeping the legacy going forward....

Patti Austin sounds so good .

Ashford & Simpson.,.one of the greatest song writing teams ever.Nick is right there in your heart Valerie Simpson.💛 Motown gave us all great musical LEGENDS.I am so grateful.💝

TOUCHING INTIMATE INTERVIEW..STAY STRONG MRS.VALARIE SIMPSON&YOUR DAUGHTERS🙏

The voice on Valerie is still on Point 👌🏾

Such a “WOW” moment!!!! I am so, so proud of Valerie Simpson: the strength she had to muster up to do this tribute to her beloved, Nick Ashford, : the love of her life. I can’t even begin to know or understand the pain & loss she was experiencing. Yes, we get through it with our support system but there are also those very private moments that must be endured, lived through, coped with to simply be able to take the next breath. I find myself wondering just how many experiencing that depth of loss actually contemplate not wanting to take that next breath. To lose a part of you: your very heart & soul, your soulmate, the love of your life: the one person you could always depend on to be there, listen, dry your tears, motivate & encourage you to keep your head up & press your way; who constantly reminds you who you are, who you belong to, what you are made of, what you have the potential, what you were created to do if you just don’t give up, give in, give out or throw in the towel. In Nick Ashford & Valerie Simpson we got to see this power couple who were so in love that that love oozed out in their every performance & stage presence. We got to see glimpses of a true love story where their love had no boundary; the kind of love that we all dream about & hope to one day have & experience without regret. Rest in heaven Nick Ashford. Valerie Simpson, continue to make & produce the quality of music you and Nick are famous for that has become your legacy of love that shall live on long after you both have passed away. Your music touched listeners to their core and reminds us of what is truly important in life. GOD bless you, Valerie Simpson & your family!!!!

Love this interview with Valerie Simpson😍 It was very emotional to watch without tearing up. Father, give Valerie the strength to fulfill her purpose.

Still a singing queen, you can take Nick's body away, you can take his casket away, but you cannot take away memories

Ashford & Valerie songs & music are timeless. RIP Ashford 🙏 & rest in peace Gwen both icons in their respective business 🙏

It was an honor to be on the same stage with Nick and Val before he passed away. 1LOVE Valerie!

Two such beautiful woman. ❤️🥰 And the beautiful man that has passed 😔 Also Patti Austin was marvelous 🙌🎶👍 Thank you Gwen for such a wonderful video, and you are missed.

She hit that high note effortlessly in “I’m Every Woman”!😳😍

Beautiful tribute!!!

My God the talent in that room...Gwen Ifill, Valerie Simpson, Patti Austin, Kindred the Family Soul, and Ray Chew.

Nick and Valerie were dynamic in every sense of the word. Love their music. RIP Nick.

I feel nothing but love for this. I'm so blessed to have been alive to witness the evolution. Praise God.

Look Valerie!-You "done went" and made me cry! Ain't nothing like the real thing--indeed Beautiful!

Death has no empathy! I am now at the age of loss out of 7 I just loss my baby brother to brain cancer and my middle brother to liver cancer. Evenings is when silence wraps my memoirs. I loved Mrs. Simpson and her Late husband growing up . My mom was a back up vocalist for a very special person you all know and I had been in this business many of song. I hope Mrs. Simpson knows that she and her husband are legends. I believe we are born with our guardian some of us have a few guardians to which helps us on our lifes journey. We are left to go on the path we are directed to be on. Had Mr. Ashford not fallen homeless and led himself to Valerie well, Iwe would have missed the boat of a historic life of two souls bleeding out notes , bonded , rescued each other and helped many lovers stay married . Valerie has more work to be done it's her path and this time it is her carring Nick's spirit into the last moments . When that final curtain closes Valerie can trust Nick will be calling her towards the realm of eternal light. Til then it's all about her and family her children. Blessings to you all especially Mrs Valerie Simpson Ashford 🙏🏻💜🙏🏻

The songs are still so beautiful! Great memories from this duo. RIP Nick.

This was very emotional 😭as I’ve just lost my beloved husband after 31years

Gosh thank you for sharing this evening with Valerie Simpson. Ashford and Simpson’s music took me through so much.

They left their mark...They fullfilled their marriage vows..."for better or for worse"..."til death do we part" and, The legacy of their music will be with us forever! 🌹❤🌹

She is still so gorgeous ❤️ God bless her and bless Nick's soul. They are so precious to this Earth 🌎

OMG!!! I love her and Nick....a timeless treasure for us!!

What a beautiful tribute to Nick Ashford. Nick, and Valerie's, love for one another truly enriched their music and made their performances electrifying throughout the years!

This was a great program and when she sang "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing" it was so real and so raw, it was beautiful!

Nick Ashford was a presence!! I encountered him on 2nd Ave in NYC. He looked good and smelled even better!!

Valerie Simpson is such a talented songwriter, singer, and producer, its almost easy to overlook how beautiful she is. Almost.

Nothing has moved me to tears in years like this. Thank you for touching my soul tonight. Thank you for decades of great music that I grew up on Nick and Valerie Simpson.

Nick & Valerie was a "DYNAMIC COUPLE" they expressed the meaning of "TRUE LOVE & TALENT" that has Spoken through their many years of dedicated Musical Gifts🎶🎤🎼📀📝

Loving hearing Patti's rendition of " You're All I Need to Get By!" Sang Queen!! 💘 👑 🎶 😍 👩 👗 👡 🎭

Thank you Gwen Ifill. You are broadcasting excellence defined. We honor you. All Praises. Rest in Power.

SUCH TALENT! I had no idea they had written so many songs for so many people!! The music is "timeless". What a blessing what a gift!

How was she able to sing the words to the songs without crying I am in tears.

I don’t know how this ended up in my feed, BUT this is truly a blessing!! I know my oldest sister (RIH) would enjoy this if she was still here. Ashford & Simpson- LOVED THEM!!

I listened to this entirety and saw what true love is and was with Ashford & Simpson. What a powerful couple.

This was so amazing. Keep your head Valerie Simpson and Rest In Power Nick Asford & the interviewer Gwen Ifill. 🙏🏼🙏🏼🕊🕊

Beautiful woman!! So glad I watched this I learned a lot more about Awesome Ashford🙏

The fact that her husband wrote I'm every woman amazes me... He wrote that from his heart. You can tell he observed her every step in order to write this song. Rip😭😭😭

Valerie, gurrrl! You still got it going on!!! Love your music to pieces

My absolute favorite singing couple /team of the 70's and 80's. Love them as much as I did as a teenager back then. Their songs are timeless- heart tugging- put you in groove if you're in a good or bad mood-Priceless!

Incredible talent from two beautiful souls! Long may their music live.

Love Val Simpson and Gwen. Nick Ashford is missed greatly. These songs will be with me forever. I’m glad Valerie looks great. I grew up listening to to Ashford and Simpson and Ms Patti Austin. Great artists. God Bless them. ❤️❤️❤️💕🌈✅

I was so full & released my tears for Valerie during that a cappella number. After she sat at that piano, tears fell again. This was a very insightful & moving interview. . . . good questions addressed. Valerie did extremely well keeping herself composed. I saw a brief moment of weakness while she was at the piano, but she closed her eyes, shook her head, and belted out her note. Again, just a great interview! Today, Valerie is still standing strongly! CELESTE, in the ATL 🌼

Wow those were the days 😪

One thing Patti Austin could still do really well was scat...get it Ms. Patti! I gave not seen Ray Chew since watching the Apollo back in the day! Ms. Valerie looks great. I’m sure she really misses Mr. Nick.

This touched my heart in a very special way & brought me to tears. RIP Nick Ashford and Gwen Ifill. May God bless & keep you, Valerie & Family for always. Great job, Gwen Ifill, all vocalists & musicians. Solid as a rock!

I still love you Val!I remember when you and Ashford send me concert tickets to see you both to perform ! thanks for being you your husband is still a angel!😇 Sandy from NC

OMG I have always loved there music. I grew up listening to them from my mom. Man I was in tears with her. My husband and I have been together for 30 years +. I can't Imagine what she and her kids are feeling. But just know you will see him again in Heaven 🙏🙌♥️

I’ve ALWAYS loved Ashford & Simpson! Loved ALL their music! 😍

Excellent!!!! They don’t make music like this anymore!!!!

Just awesome, super talented people. Black Americans , you all don't know how talented God has graced you all. Please know how you all are and follow the path. Don't destroy your purpose with drugs and alcohol.

Such a beautiful lovely talented couple .

Oh WOW what a Blessing to come across this!!! So enjoyable for me!!!🥰 My God will continue to keep you and family until you are together again! I love you!!!

Ashford and Simpson were just AMAZING ON ALL ENTERTAINMENT LEVELS. A REAL DYNAMIC DUO.

what an awesome show, I've been a fan of Ashford and Simpson since grade school when I got their first album, it was nice to see Patti Austin

She looks just like me. What a blessing who knew she wrote some of the best songs of all time. Im in tears. I love her

It's hard to sing through tears but she made it.❤️

These two Legends perform ed and wrote some extraordinary songs. Rest in peace Nick.

Wow ! One of the most Awesome and adventurous events i've ever witnessed. Can only imagine what it must of felt like being apart of the live audience They definitely were Soul Mates. R.I.P. Nick

God be with you Ms. Valerie Simpson n family. Wow I had no ideal the great song you two wrote. Ashford n Simpson are Iconic. I have always admired the love that flowed from your hearts truly a power couple. So happy I saw this tribute today. RIH Nick Ashford.

You talk about “iconic” Nick Ashford and Valerie Simpson! Beautiful. Their music will always be apart of the background music of our lives. I just love their stuff; and it’s obvious that they wrote from the foundation of their very own personal love affair. Ashford and Simpson, forever. Thank you for sharing your God-given gifts with all of us. Y’all, certainly lived y’all purpose; and because of that - you helped us to us to all stay on our purpose. God bless, Love y’all,

That picture in a frame part made me cry!

I cry because of the pureness, authenticity

This was an amazing tribute! So touching and reflective of their love and the beautiful music they created. You are every woman Ms Simpson! RWG Nick and Gwen❤

Ashford and Simpson will live on. God bless their music. Positive .

One of the great teams and Valerie continues on-- amazing!!!

I loved this tribute !

You still look good Valerie. I can feel your heart for Ashford. That's awesome.

Such exemplary song writers and performers. I saw them a few times in concert and they were always solid gold and number 1 when they did their shows. Huge fan of them.

I only had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Ashford once. Backstage at the Kool Jazz Festival in 1981 in San Diego, California. One of the nicest of gentlemen...

This was beautiful.

Ashford and Simpson...Beautiful

I've been looking for this footage for years! Thank you TheHistoryMakers for uploading this!

This was really wonderful! Glad something nudged me to click on this video! Excellent tribute!

They loved each other so much. They were 'SOLID" as a rock

Gwen, Nick, too soon. Valerie, thank you. My life is better for you all.

Nick n Valerie were magic!!!!

Fell in love with this singing duo in the 70’s while in high school. Had a big color wall poster of them in my bedroom. Enjoyed this special honoring her beloved Nick. Valerie did good, but I could still feel her pain as we all too miss Nick Ashford.

God Bless her! A incredible woman! 👏