1 / 10

Alicia Keys\r - "I’m so sad that he’s gone … So many of the greatest are going to a greater place … what a legacy of infectious music … man!"\r(Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images)

Photo By Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images

2 / 10

Nile Rodgers - "My most heartfelt condolences to the Leiber, Ashford and Simpson families – talented, kind and generous souls."\r \r(Photo: Matthew Peyton/Getty Images)

3 / 10

Ledisi \r - "Nick Ashford and Val[e]rie Simpson taught us how to love and sustain love.Their bond lifted the world through their songwriting and their artistry. It's hard to believe that one half of the Ashford and Simpson Legacy, Nick Ashford, is no longer physically with us."\r"My prayers go out to Ms.Val[e]rie and their beautiful family.Their love lives on through their music.Thank you for sharing that love with the rest of the world"\r(Photo: Mychal Watts/PictureGroup)

4 / 10

Stephen Hill\r - "RIP Nick Ashford. respect for the songwriter..and lover of love..."\r\r(Photo: Gregg DeGuire/PictureGroup)

5 / 10

William "Bootsy" Collins - "Okay funkateers, we just lost another friend & true foot soldiers. Our prayers go out to his wife Valerie..."(Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

6 / 10

Rico Love - "Nick Ashford’s passing is a reminder of how great our genre of music is and how his contribution has affected music in a whole. It’s my mission to keep R&B music alive and to keep the memory of Nick Ashford, Sam Cooke, Marvin Gaye and all others who have paved the way for me and other songwriter/producers." (Photo: Scott Gries/Getty Images)

7 / 10

Lenny Kravitz - "Left rehearsal. Hard nick ashford passed. A legend. My heart goes goes out to Valerie. My Lord, Ain’t No Mountain High Enough. Solid As A Rock."(Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images)

Photo By Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images

8 / 10

Russell Simmons - “R.I.P. Nick Ashford has left his body. Most cannot see his everlasting spirit, but the eyes behind the eyes remain with us."(Photo: Roger Kisby/Getty Images)

9 / 10

?uestlove - "Two masters of lyricals passed away today. Ashford & Simpson’s Nick Ashford & Jerry Leiber. These 2 men wrote the sndtrk of your lives." (Photo: Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images for ONE Show)

Photo By Photo: Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images for ONE Show

10 / 10

Spike Lee - "Sad Morning. We lost another Giant yesterday,The Great NICK ASHFORD. Nick,along with his wife Valerie Simpson wrote amazing songs." (Photo: Michael Tran/Getty Images for DIRECTV)