The Ol School Sunday Night Live With Aaron Bernard

09/02/2025

https://soundcloud.com/aaron-b-baldwin/third-world-interview-cat-and?si=7d2e86ae464b4125ab7e1991a4e42f72&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

An interview on The Ol School Sunday Night Live with "Cat" Coore of Third World

08/27/2025

10 yrs ago J Parle Jerica D. Wortham gave me the opportunity to tell my life story through my musical journey! One of the most exciting, fun, passionate expression I have had the opportunity to do in front of people❣️

Aaron Bernard aka AB the Old School Maestro tells his story through music at J Parlé 11.20.14

08/27/2025

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Let's wish a BIG Happy Birthday to a Living Legend, Singer, Songwriter and Producer Valerie Simpson of the Legendary Duet Ashford & Simpson..

Valerie Simpson (born August 26, 1946), were a husband and wife songwriting/production team and recording artists.

Ashford (May 4, 1942 – August 22, 2011) was born in Fairfield, South Carolina, and Simpson in the Bronx, New York. They 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, Joshie 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)". Ashford and Simpson wrote many other hit songs including Chaka Khan's "I'm Every Woman" (1978) and Teddy Pendergrass's "Is It Still Good to You?" As performers, Ashford & Simpson's best-known duets are "Solid (As a Rock)" (1984 US and 1985 UK), and "Found a Cure" (1979). The duo was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2002.

The duo essentially had two careers: one as a successful writing and producing team and the other as singers and performers themselves. They started their career in the mid-1960s, writing for artists such as The 5th Dimension ("California Soul"), Aretha Franklin ("Cry Like A Baby"), and Ray Charles ("Let's Go Get Stoned" and "I Don't Need No Doctor"). Their work with Charles brought them to the attention of Motown chief Berry Gordy.

Upon joining the Motown staff in 1966, Ashford & Simpson were paired with the vocal duo Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, and they wrote and/or produced all but one of the late-1960s Gaye/Terrell singles, including hits such as the original version of "Ain't No Mountain High Enough", "Your Precious Love", "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing", and "You're All I Need to Get By". According to Gaye in the book Divided Soul, Simpson did most of the vocals on the last album he did with Terrell, Easy, as a way for Terrell's family to have additional income as she was battling an ultimately fatal brain tumor. (Simpson is quoted as denying this in a book written by Terrell's sister Ludie Montgomery; and Louvain Demps, singer of The Andantes, has stated that she saw Terrell recording the album.)

Ashford & Simpson wrote and produced almost all the songs on three 1970s albums for former Supreme Diana Ross, including her first solo album Diana Ross ("Reach Out and Touch (Somebody's Hand)" and "Ain't No Mountain High Enough"), Surrender ("Remember Me"), and The Boss.

Other Motown artists whom Ashford & Simpson worked with include Gladys Knight & The Pips ("Didn't You Know You'd Have to Cry Sometime", "The Landlord", "Bourgie, Bourgie", and "Taste of Bitter Love"), Smokey Robinson & The Miracles ("Who's Gonna Take the Blame"), The Marvelettes ("Destination:Anywhere"), The Supremes ("Some Things You Never Get Used To"), and The Dynamic Superiors ("Shoe, Shoe Shine").

Other artists with whom Ashford & Simpson had hits were Teddy Pendergrass ("Is It Still Good to You"), The Brothers Johnson ("Ride-O-Rocket"), Chaka Khan, both on her own ("I'm Every Woman" and "Clouds"), and with Rufus ("Keep It Comin'" and "Ain't Nothin' But a Maybe").

08/27/2025

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Happy 40th Anniversary to Sheila E.’s second studio album ‘Romance 1600’ originally released August 26, 1985.

08/27/2025

Get tickets with StubHub

08/27/2025

08/27/2025

😏📻

08/18/2025

🙌🏿❣️

It’s Monday morning...and here’s your permission slip to breathe. Build slowly. Let this week unfold in steps, not sprints. You’ve carried yourself through every Monday before. You’ve got this one, too.

08/18/2025

Prince released his twelfth studio album (and soundtrack to the film) ‘Graffiti Bridge’ (1990) 35 years ago this week | Listen to the album + read our tribute by Andy Healy via the link in the comments below.