Nickolas Ashford Born May 4 1942 In Fairfield SC – August 22 2011 In New York City And Valerie Simpson Born August 26 1946 In Bronx NY Were A Husband And Wife Songwriting/production Team And Recording Artists. Their Best-Known Songs Include "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" "You're All I Need To Get By" "Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing" And "Reach Out And Touch Somebody's Hand ". As Performers Their Best-Known Song Is "Solid" 1984 US And 1985 UK Although They Have Had Many Other Hits Mostly On The R&B Charts. Many Of Their Songs Have Been Recorded In Hit Versions By Artists As Diverse As Diana Ross Chaka Khan Whitney Houston Gladys Knight & The Pips Ray Charles Marvin Gaye Aretha Franklin And So Many Many Others. Ashford And Simpson Met At Harlem's White Rock Baptist Church In 1963. After Having Recorded Unsuccessfully As A Duo They Joined Aspiring Solo Artist And Former Member Of The Ikettes Josie Jo Armstead At The Scepter/Wand Label Where Their Compositions Were Recorded By Ronnie Milsap "Never Had It So Good" Maxine Brown "One Step At A Time" As Well As The Shirelles And Chuck Jackson. Another Of The Trio's Songs "Let's Go Get Stoned" Gave Ray Charles A Number One U.S. R&B Hit In 1966. That Same Year Ashford & Simpson Joined Motown Where Their Best-Known Songs Included "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" "You're All I Need To Get By" "Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing" And "Reach Out And Touch Somebody's Hand ". The Duo Was Inducted Into The Songwriters Hall Of Fame In 2002.