Legendary songwriter and music producer Valerie Simpson was awarded a key to New York City.

Simpson was handed the honor by Mayor Eric Adams Sunday at the 22nd annual St. Albans Jazz and Rhythm and Blues Festival. Simpson has contributed to over 50 years in the music industry along with her husband Nickolas Ashford. Both of them collaborated with high-profile music legends like Ben E. King, Chaka Khan, Gladys Knight and the Pips, and Quincy Jones.

The duo would go on to write iconic songs such as Diana Ross’ “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough", Ray Charles’ “Let’s Go Get Stoned” and more.

Ashford and Simpson were nominated for three Grammy Awards and wrote 16 albums, four of which went gold. They've also received over 50 awards from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP).

Simpson is now an ASCAP Foundation board member and runs The Sugar Bar in Manhattan.