Motown legend Nick Ashford honored by crowd of family and friends at Harlem funeral
Family and friends packed one of Harlem‘s most prominent churches last night to say farewell to beloved singer and songwriter Nick Ashford.
Ashford, who made a career performing with his wife, Valerie Simpson, and writing some of Motown’s most recognizable songs, died last week after a long battle with throat cancer. He was 70.
“One of the strongest people I’ve seen in a long time is Valerie Simpson,” said the Rev. Calvin Butts to a standing ovation from the hundreds of mourners who packed Abyssinian Baptist Church.
Ashford’s widow and musical partner wiped away tears as mourners acknowledged her.
Later, midway through the service, she jumped out of her seat to play the piano and spoke.
“I’ve got a lot to say about a great man,” Simpson said.
“He was my soul mate. He was the man of my life,” she said. “I’m going to miss my honey….I know he’s looking down on us. I know he’s happy.”
The service began with a solo by singer Roberta Flack, who hugged Simpson following the moving vocal of “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face.”
Actresses Phylicia Rashad and S. Epatha Merkerson recited Maya Angelou‘s “When Great Trees Fall.”
“Nick, wherever you are, I want to thank you,” dancer and choreographer George Faison said, quoting Ashford’s song “Remember Me.”
“You and Nick showed so much love to people you didn’t even know,” actress Tichina Arnold told Simpson before singing a powerful rendition of “I’m Too Close” with singer Victor Cook.
The service ended with a medley of Ashford’s most notable songs, with “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” led by Freddie Jackson and “Reach Out and Touch” led by singers Alyson Williams and Andre Smith.
Also in attendance were former Vogue editor Andre Leon Talley, Essence editor in chief emeritus Susan Taylor, Alvin Ailey‘s Judith Jamison and “Late Show With David Letterman” bandleader Paul Shaffer.