NEW YORK — Nick Ashford, one-half of the legendary Motown songwriting duo Ashford & Simpson died Monday at age 70, his former publicist said.

Ashford, who along with wife, Valerie Simpson wrote some of Motown’s biggest hits, died in a New York City hospital. He had been suffering from throat cancer and had undergone radiation treatment.

Though they had some of their greatest success at Motown with classics like “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” and “Reach Out And Touch Somebody’s Hand” by Diana Ross and “You’re All I Need To Get By” by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, Ashford & Simpson also created anthems for others, like “I‘m Every Woman” by Chaka Khan (and later remade by Whitney Houston).