Soul man was half of writing partnership.

(From Western Daily Press)

Nick Ashford, who has died aged 70, was one half of a legendary Motown songwriting duo that penned elegant, soulful classics for Diana Ross and Marvin Gaye.

He and wife Valerie Simpson wrote Motown classics Ain't No Mountain High Enough and Reach Out And Touch Somebody's Hand (re-corded by Ross) and You're All I Need To Get By, made famous by Gaye and Tammi Terrell.

They also wrote I'm Every Woman, which was a hit for Chaka Khan and, later, Whitney Houston.

The pair also had success writing for themselves, with their own 1980s hit Solid As A Rock. Ashford's father, Calvin, was a construction worker.

He got his …