Valerie Simpson

Valerie Simpson, born smack in the heart of The Bronx back in 1945, has lived a wild ride most could only dream of. This isn’t just some random name you stumble across—she’s got her fingerprints all over some of the biggest movies out there. Seriously, you ever watch The Bodyguard? Yeah, her music is right in there, vibing through those iconic scenes. Fast forward a couple decades, and bam—her work shows up in Guardians of the Galaxy. I mean, who else can say their songs are part of a Marvel soundtrack and still pop up in something as glitzy as Crazy Rich Asians? Not a whole lot of people, that’s for sure. But Valerie’s not just hanging around in the background. She’s a composer, sure, but she’s also jumped into acting when the mood strikes. You can tell there’s this creative energy about her—probably something in that New York water, right? She had a serious partnership, too. She and Nick Ashford weren’t just married, they were basically a legendary duo, writing and producing tracks that shaped the sound of entire generations. Some couples just fight over dishes; these two wrote the soundtrack for love, heartbreak, and everything in between. Even if you’re not a music buff, you’ve definitely heard something she’s touched. Her songs show up in movies that span genres—romance, comedy, you name it. Makes you wonder how one person’s work can stitch itself into so many memories, right? Valerie Simpson’s legacy is everywhere, even if you don’t always realize it. Not bad for a Bronx kid with a big voice and an even bigger dream.