Jeff writes: I’ve just woken up to the news that two of my favourite songwriters have passed away overnight. Jerry Leiber, lyric writing partner of Mike Stoller, and Nick Ashford, writing partner (and husband) of Valerie Simpson, are names that feature on the labels of some of the greatest records ever made. And let’s not forget that L & S were the guys that gave Phil Spector his first real break. All change.

Obituaries to follow but this interview with Leiber and Stoller, conducted by David Fricke for Rolling Stone, is a really enlightening read on the songwriter’s art and the birth of rock ‘n’ roll as we know it.

Ashford & Simpson were simply unbelievable. It’s mad how many great songs they have written and produced. This one for example: