R&B group Ashford & Simpson will perform at Claflin University during the 14th annual Presidential Scholarship Gala, Friday, Nov. 16, during Homecoming Weekend.

The gala will be held in Tullis Arena at the Jonas T. Kennedy Center. The evening will begin at 6 p.m. with a silent auction, followed by dinner at 7 p.m. and entertainment at 8 p.m. Tickets are $200 per person and $2,000 per table.

Nickolas Ashford, of Fairfield, and Valerie Simpson, of Bronx, N.Y., are a husband and wife recording, songwriting and production team. The couple met in the choir of Harlem's White Rock Baptist Church. The duo essentially had two careers -- one as a successful writing and producing team, and the other as singers and performers themselves.

They started their career in the 1960s writing for artists such as Ray Charles, The Fifth Dimension and Aretha Franklin. Ashford & Simpson then joined Holland/Dozier/Holland at Motown in 1967, where their best known songs included "Ain't No Mountain High Enough," "You're All I Need to Get By," "Reach Out and Touch Somebody's Hand" and "Remember Me."

While at Motown, they wrote and/or produced all but one of the late 1960s singles Marvin Gaye recorded with Tammi Terrell. The list of artists Ashford & Simpson has worked with spans decades and includes Diana Ross, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Teddy Pendergrass, Chaka Khan and, most recently, Amy Winehouse.

For more information about the gala or to purchase tickets, call 803-535-5376 or e-mail Ibomar@claflin.edu. For more information about Homecoming events, call 803-535-5077 or e-mail cslaughter@claflin.edu. For more information about alumni events, hotel and event packages, call 803-535-5348 or e-mail mburgess@claflin.edu.

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