May 11, 2012

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Valerie Simpson is gearing up for the release of a new album, her first since the death of her husband and Ashford & Simpson music partner Nickolas Ashford last year.

Valerie's upcoming disc, Dinosaurs Are Coming Back Again, will be released through her website later this month.

The solo set is her first in more than four decades, and was produced in part by the late Ashford. "My honey put his heart and soul and some powerful lyrics into this album for me. I think Nick would be very pleased and proud of how it came out," Valerie says in a statement.

Among the tracks on Dinosaurs Are Coming Back Again is an instrumental version of "Ain't No Mountain High Enough," the Ashford & Simpson-written classic. Vocals from Roberta Flack and the late Nina Simone are also featured on Valerie's new disc.

Valerie has lately been traveling, and will perform at New York City's Beacon Theatre with The Whispers on May 19.

After 40 years she decides to do her 3rd album...LOL! Talk about a long-ass solo hiatus.

Its good to see she's still working and recording after losing Nick Ashford. I know it must had been hard recording without him by her side.

So glad to see she didn't just give up and retire after Nick's untimely death. She will always be one of my all-time favourite artists and she's also probably the nicest artist that I have ever met.

I admire her strength and the courage it must have taken to perform and prepare a solo project so soon after Nick's death.

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[Edited 5/11/12 10:45am]

Valerie Simpson's Six-Night Gig @ The Rrazz Room

May 2012

The Rrazz Room San Francisco’s premiere nightclub, presents the debut solo engagement of Valerie Simpson running now through May 13.

Ms. Simpson wrote some of the greatest love songs of a generation with her husband and writing partner, Nick Ashford, including “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” “You’re All I Need To Get By,” “Reach Out and Touch (Somebody’s Hand)” and “Ain’t Nothing Like The Real Thing.” But when he died of throat cancer in August at the age of 70, Simpson was cast adrift.

After spending more than four decades together, she didn't know if she would ever get back on stage. Valerie performs all their greatest hits in this moving concert experience.

Valerie Simpson’s has had dual careers as a performer and songwriter, having provided many iconic artists with some of their biggest hits. Her songs have been recorded by legends such as Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross, Ray Charles,Whitney Houston, Marvin Gaye, Chaka Khan, Mary J. Blige, Smokey Robinson, Gladys Knight, Ronnie Milsap and Nina Simone, among many more.

Ashford & Simpson met in 1964 and scored their first songwriting hit in 1966 with Ray Charles’ recording of their “Let’s Go Get Stoned.” After a period at Scepter Records, they moved to Motown, where they wrote hits for the duo of Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell (“Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing,” “You’re All I Need to Get By”).

When Diana Ross left The Supremes for a solo career, Ashford & Simpson wrote “Reach Out and Touch Somebody’s Hand” for her. Their own performing career was launched in 1973 with Keep It Comin’ on Motown and Gimme Something Real on Warner Bros. Their first success came in 1977 with the gold-selling Send It, which contained the Top Ten R&B hit “Don’t Cost You Nothing.”

Is It Still Good to Ya, a second gold album, contained the number two R&B hit “It Seems to Hang On” in 1978. Stay Free, their third straight gold album, contained “Found a Cure,” another R&B smash that also made the Top 40 on the pop chart. A Musical Affair, in 1980, featured the hit “Love Don’t Make It Right.” Their performing career saw a huge resurgence in 1984 with Solid, which went gold and produced the R&B #1 smash “Solid”.

Their own record label, Hopsack and Silk, launched in 1996 with Been Found, a collaboration with poet Maya Angelou. That year, ASCAP presented them with their highest honor, the Founders Award and in 1999 they received the Pioneer Award from the Rhythm & Blues Foundation. They have also hosted a long-running radio program on KISS FM Radio.

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Gotta pay those bills.

She's just keepin busy. They had good publishing deals, yes?

allsmutaside said:

She's just keepin busy. They had good publishing deals, yes?

If it involved JoBeTe in any way, not a chance!

(Hey Timmy..waves)

To the best of my knowledge, Nick and Val owned the publishing rights to their nearly 250-song catalog. Now, that's what I call taking care of bizness.

What a trooper.

Identity said:

To the best of my knowledge, Nick and Val owned the publishing rights to their nearly 250-song catalog. Now, that's what I call taking care of bizness.

Mo money, mo money

[img:$uid]http://i.imgur.com/e2RMF.jpg?1?7483[/img:$uid]

And she is STILL fine!!! damn!!!

So sad that Nick has gone on. I loved them as a team. Good luck to her. She's a talented lady, and she looks great too.

Often overlooked treasure from Nick & Val's Send It album. This song explores a relationship with lyrical grace and passion.

I hope she tours southern California. Please, Val.

HuMpThAnG said:

[img:$uid]http://i.imgur.com/e2RMF.jpg?1?7483[/img:$uid]

And she is STILL fine!!! damn!!!

Valerie is 100% MILF & GILF.

yes sa'!!!

Listen to samples on CD Baby:

http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/valeriesimpson

MidniteMagnet said:

After 40 years she decides to do her 3rd album...LOL! Talk about a long-ass solo hiatus.

She must be related 2 D'angelo.