- Valerie Simpson was born on August 26, 1945 in The Bronx, New York, USA. She is a composer and actress, known for The Bodyguard (1992), Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) and Crazy Rich Asians (2018). She was previously married to Nick Ashford.
- SpouseNick Ashford(November 30, 1974 - August 22, 2011) (his death, 2 children)
- The song "I'm Every Woman", first popularized by Chaka Khan (1978) and then Whitney Houston (1993), was written by Simpson and husband Nick Ashford.
- Hit songs written by Miss Simpson and husband Nick Ashford include "Ain't No Mountain High Enough", "Solid", "You're All I Need to Get By", "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing", "Let's Go Get Stoned", and "The Boss", recorded by many R&B and pop legends as Ray Charles, Diana Ross, Marvin Gaye, Tammi Terrell, The Supremes, Aretha Franklin, The Four Tops, Whitney Houston, Gladys Knight & The Pips, Martha & The Vandellas, Chaka Khan, The Temptations, and The Marvelettes.
- Inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2002 with husband Nick Ashford.
- First met future husband, Nick Ashford, in a Harlem church in 1963.
- Valerie appeared with Chaka Khan in the 1993 video release of her song "I'm Every Woman" as performed by Whitney Houston from the soundtrack of The Bodyguard (1992).
- [on touring]: You can't fool them in a room like this, they're right on top of you.
- [on writing songs from Diana Ross to Marvin Gaye, esp. themselves]: We were thrilled. It's a songwriters dream to have a song recorded and run up the charts.
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