It's a sad day for anyone who loves classic pop and soul songwriting as two great practitioners of the art have died. Jerry Leiber, who passed away aged 78 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre in Los Angeles of cardiopulmonary failure, made an indelible mark on pop with songs he created with his writing partner Mike Stoller in the late-50s and early-60s.
Nick Ashford, who died aged 70 in New York of throat cancer, wrote songs with his wife Valerie Simpson that similarly defined an era – the late-60s and early-70s. Here are some of their finest moments: please share your own below. Full obituaries will follow shortly.
Ben E King's mellifluous rendition of this Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller song, coupled with Phil Spector's production, made an uncelebrated part of New York feel like the most elegant place on earth.
A Thomas Mann story called Disillusionment inspired Leiber and Stoller to write this, the ultimate "seize the day" song, definitively interpreted by Peggy Lee in 1969, though many others have also had a bash.
Leiber and Stoller joyously summed up the travails of the generation gap in 1958 with this concise description of how well nagging goes down with teenagers.
Perhaps owing to the fact they were married to each other, Ashford and Simpson were brilliant at writing songs that expressed sheer romantic devotion, and this – perfectly sung by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell – is their best, just about edging out Ain't No Mountain High Enough.
Another soaring declaration of love, although sung from one ex-partner to another, this became an anthem for its singer, Diana Ross. Also includes the curious line: "Remember me as a big balloon."
Ashford & Simpson - Solid by trashfan
Solid is notable for the fact that Ashford and Simpson sing it. While it's perhaps not one of their best, it's the first song anyone brought up in the 80s thinks of when the songwriters' names are mentioned – it was a huge hit in 1984.
