On January 29th 2019, it was announced that James Ingram, R&B singer and songwriter had died, he was 66. He had suffered a long battle with brain cancer. He is most noted for the 1980s hits, "Just Once,' for which he won a Grammy, and "One Hundred Ways." Both songs were recorded for Quincy Jones' 1981 album, "The Dude." He won his second Grammy for "Ya Mo Be There," a duet with Michael McDonald, from his first solo album, "It's your Night," released in 1983.
Mr. Ingram was an Ohio native, born in Akron on February 16th, 1952. While growing up there, he taught himself to play piano and sang in his church's choir. He played in night clubs until age 18, when he became a member of the Akron based band, Revelation Funk. The band moved to LA in 1973, but after a lack of success, returned to Ohio a few yeas later. Mr Ingram, however, stayed behind and began to make a name for him self, writing songs and doing session work.
A late 70s gig with Leon Haywood led to work on Haywood's 1980 single, "Don't Push It, Don't Force It." That same year saw the release of the Lamont Dozier produced album by Zingara. Zingara was a quintet that featured Mr. Ingram on lead vocals on the minor 1980 R&B hit, "Love's Calling." The work began to pile up, as he co wrote the song "PYT," for Michael Jackson's, "Thriller." From there he would be featured on hits like, "Baby Come To Me," with Patty Austin, and "Some Where Out There," with Linda Ronstadt.
James Ingram is survived by his wife Debra and their six children.
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