James Ingram

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For other people named James Ingram, see James Ingram (disambiguation).

James Ingram

Ingram in 1998

Born James Edward Ingram

February 16, 1952

Akron, Ohio, U.S.

Died January 29, 2019 (aged 66)

Los Angeles, California, U.S.

Resting place Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Hollywood Hills,

 California, U.S.

Occupation Musician, songwriter, record producer, actor

Years active 1973–2019

Debra Robinson (m. 1975)

Spouse(s)

Musical career

Origin Los Angeles, California, U.S.

Genres R&B, pop, soul

Instruments vocals, keyboards

Labels Qwest, Intering

Associated Ray Charles, Quincy Jones, Michael McDonald, Anita

acts Baker, Michael Jackson, Nancy Wilson, James

Ingram, Commodores

Website jamesingramsmusic.com

James Edward Ingram (February 16, 1952 – January 29, 2019) [1][2] was an American singer,
songwriter, record producer, and instrumentalist. He was a two-time Grammy Award-winner and a
two-time Academy Award nominee for Best Original Song. After beginning his career in 1973,
Ingram charted eight Top 40 hits on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart from the early 1980s until the
early 1990s, as well as thirteen top 40 hits on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. In addition, he
charted 20 hits on the Adult Contemporary chart (including two number-ones). He had two number-
one singles on the Hot 100: the first, a duet with fellow R&B artist Patti Austin, 1982's "Baby, Come
to Me" topped the U.S. pop chart in 1983; "I Don't Have the Heart", which became his second
number-one in 1990 was his only number-one as a solo artist.
In between these hits, he also recorded the song "Somewhere Out There" with fellow recording
artist Linda Ronstadt for the animated film An American Tail. The song and the music video both
became gigantic hits. Ingram co-wrote "The Day I Fall in Love", from the motion picture Beethoven's
2nd (1993), and singer Patty Smyth's "Look What Love Has Done", from the motion
picture Junior (1994), which earned him nominations for Best Original Song from the Oscars, Golden
Globes, and Grammy Awards in 1994 and 1995.
 Contents

 1Biography
o 1.1Early life
o 1.2Career
o 1.3Death
 2Discography
o 2.1Studio albums
o 2.2Compilation albums
o 2.3Singles
o 2.4Other appearances
 3Filmography
 4Awards and nominations
o 4.1Grammy Awards
o 4.2Academy Award nominations
o 4.3Golden Globe Award nominations
 5References
 6External links

Biography[edit]
Early life[edit]
Ingram was born in Akron, Ohio, where he attended Akron's East High School and received a track
scholarship to the University of Akron.[3] Subsequently he moved to Los Angeles and played with the
band Revelation Funk, which made an appearance in the Rudy Ray Moore film Dolemite. He also
later played keyboards for Ray Charles before becoming famous. James Ingram received his first
publishing deal with 20th Century Fox publishing company, which is where he sang the $50 demo
for "Just Once".[4]
Career[edit]
Ingram provided the vocals to "Just Once"[5] and "One Hundred Ways"[6] on Quincy Jones's 1981
album The Dude, which earned Ingram triple Grammy nominations, including Best New Artist.[7] "One
Hundred Ways" won him the Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for his work. On
December 11, 1981, Ingram appeared as a guest on the Canadian comedy series SCTV (which
aired on NBC), singing "Just Once".[8] Ingram's debut album, It's Your Night, was released in 1983
and included the ballad "There's No Easy Way".[4] He worked with other notable artists such
as Donna Summer, Ray Charles, Anita Baker, Viktor Lazlo, Nancy Wilson, Natalie Cole, and Kenny
Rogers. In October 1990, he scored a No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 with the love ballad "I Don't
Have the Heart",[9] from his It's Real album.
In 1984, Ingram received three additional Grammy nominations: "How Do You Keep the Music
Playing?" (his second duet with recording artist Patti Austin), for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or
Group with Vocals; the US Top 10 single, "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)" for Michael Jackson, which
Ingram and Quincy Jones co-wrote, for Best R&B Song; and the track "Party Animal" for Best Male
R&B Vocal Performance. In early 1985, he was nominated for his debut album (It's Your Night) for
Best Male R&B Vocal Performance, and for its single, "Yah Mo B There" (a duet with
fellow R&B musician Michael McDonald), for Best R&B Song and Best R&B Performance by a Duo
or Group, and won the latter.[4][10][11]
Ingram is perhaps best known for his hit collaborations with other vocalists. He scored a No. 1 hit on
the Hot 100 chart in February 1983 with Patti Austin on the duet "Baby, Come to Me", [12] a song
made popular on TV's General Hospital. A second Austin–Ingram duet, "How Do You Keep the
Music Playing?", was featured in the movie Best Friends (1982) and earned an Oscar nomination.
[13]
 In 1984, he teamed up with Kenny Rogers and Kim Carnes for the Top 40 ballad "What About
Me?"[4] In 1985, Ingram won a Grammy Award for "Yah Mo B There", a duet with Michael McDonald,
and participated in the charity single "We Are the World".[4]
Ingram teamed with American vocalist Linda Ronstadt and had a million-selling #2 hit in the U.S. and
a Top 10 U.K. hit in 1987[14] with "Somewhere Out There", the theme from the animated feature
film An American Tail. The song was awarded the 1987 Grammy Award for Song of the Year. It also
received Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations. It was one of the last million-selling Gold-
certified 45 RPM singles to be issued by the RIAA.[15][16][17]
In the 1990s, Ingram's highest-profile team-up came again with Quincy Jones, on the song "The
Secret Garden". This song also featured vocals by Barry White, El DeBarge, and Al B. Sure!.[18]
[19]
 Soundtrack songs were popular for Ingram in the 1990s. From the movie Sarafina! came "One
More Time", and from City Slickers came "Where Did My Heart Go?" In 1991, he and Melissa
Manchester performed the song "The Brightest Star" in the animated Christmas film Precious
Moments Timmy's Gift. In 1993, they performed the song again in the film's sequel Precious
Moments Timmy's Special Delivery. Ingram's 1994 composition "The Day I Fall in Love", a duet
with Dolly Parton, was the theme song for the movie Beethoven's 2nd and was nominated for
an Academy Award for Best Original Song.[20][21] Ingram and Parton performed the song live on the
Oscar broadcast. In 1997, he and Carnie Wilson co-wrote the song "Our Time Has Come" and lent it
to the animated film Cats Don't Dance.[4][11][10]
During the summer of 2004, Ingram participated in the U.S. television reality show Celebrity
Duets as a duet partner. The show combined professional vocalists, of various musical genres, with
entertainers of different backgrounds in a weekly elimination competition. [22] In 2006, Ingram and neo-
soul singer Angie Stone teamed up on "My People".[23] In 2011, Ingram joined Cliff Richard's list of
special guest performers on his Soulicious Tour performing at various UK venues during November.
[24]
 He sang two songs from the album with Richard, as well a solo of "Just Once". [25] In 2012, Ingram
appeared as himself in the ABC television show Suburgatory, in the episode "The Motherload".
[26]
 Also in 2012, he was a guest vocalist at Debbie Allen's October 13 live show at the corner
of Crenshaw Blvd. and Martin Luther King Blvd. celebrating the arrival of the Space Shuttle
Endeavour, singing R. Kelly's "I Believe I Can Fly".[27][28][29]
Death[edit]
James Ingram died of brain cancer on January 29, 2019, just 2 weeks before his birthday. He was
66.[30][31]

Discography[edit]
Studio albums[edit]

Chart positions Certifications[32] Record label

Year Title
US US
US[33] UK[36]
R&B[34] Gospel[35]

198 It's Your Night 46 10 — 25 RIAA: Gold Qwest/Warner Bros.

3
 198 Never Felt So
123 37 — 72 —
6 Good

198
It's Real 117 44 — — —
9

199
Always You — 74 — — —
3

200
Stand — 63 18 — — Intering
8

"—" denotes the album failed to chart, was not released, or was not certified

Compilation albums[edit]

Chart positions[33][34]

Year Title Certifications[32] Record label

US
US
R&B

199 Greatest Hits: The Power of Great Qwest/Warner

168 — RIAA: Gold
1 Music Bros.

199 Forever More (Love Songs, Hits &

165 94 — Private Music
9 Duets)

"—" denotes the album failed to chart, was not released, or was not certified

Singles[edit]

Chart positions Certifications[32] Album

Year Title
US US
US[37] UK[36]
R&B[38] A/C[39]
 "Just Once" (with Quincy Jones) 17 11 7 — —
198
The Dude
1
"One Hundred Ways" (with Quincy
14 10 5 — —
Jones)

198 "Baby, Come to Me" (with Patti Every Home

1 9 1 11 RIAA: Gold
2 Austin) Should Have One

"How Do You Keep the Music

45 6 5 — —
Playing?" (with Patti Austin)

198
"Party Animal" — 21 — — —
3

"Yah Mo B There" (with Michael
19 5 — 12 — It's Your Night
McDonald)

"There's No Easy Way" 58 14 7 — —

"She Loves Me (The Best That I

198 — 59 19 — —
Can)"
4

"What About Me?" (with Kenny

15 57 1 92 — What About Me?
Rogers & Kim Carnes)

"It's Your Night" — — — 25 — It's Your Night

198
5 "America (The Dream Goes Boston Pops:
On)" (with John Williams and — — — — — America, The
the Boston Pops Orchestra) Dream Goes On

198 "Always" — 27 — — — Never Felt So

6 Good
 "I Just Can't Let Go" (with David Anywhere You
— — 13 — —
Pack & Michael McDonald) Go

Never Felt So
"Never Felt So Good" — 86 — — —
Good

"Somewhere Out
2 — 4 8 RIAA: Gold An American Tail
There" (with Linda Ronstadt)

198 Beverly Hills Cop

"Better Way" — 66 — — —
7 II

"It's Real" — 8 — 83 —

198 "I Wanna Come Back" — 18 — — —

It's Real
9

"(You Make Me Feel Like) A

— 30 — — —
Natural Man"

"The Secret Garden (Sweet

Seduction Suite)" (with Quincy Jones Back on the
31 1 26 67 —
feat. Al B. Sure!, El DeBarge and Barry Block
White)

199
0 "I Don't Have the Heart" 1 53 2 — —

It's Real
"When Was the Last Time the
— 81 29 — —
Music Made You Cry"

199 "Where Did My Heart Go" — — 23 — — City Slickers

1

"Get Ready" — 59 — — — The Greatest

Hits: The Power
 of Great Music

199
"Someone Like You" — — 34 — — Always You
3

"The Day I Fall in Love" (with Dolly

— — 36 64 — Beethoven's 2nd
Parton)

199
4
"I Don't Want to Be Alone for
A Very Merry
Christmas (Unless I'm Alone with — — — — —
Chipmunk
You)"

199 "When You Love

— 71 39 — — Forget Paris
5 Someone" (with Anita Baker)

199 "Give Me Forever (I

66 — 5 — — Pure Movies
8 Do)" (with John Tesh)

199 "Forever More (I'll Be the

— — 12 — — One World
9 One)" (with John Tesh)

"—" denotes the single failed to chart or was not released

Other appearances[edit]

Year Song Album Artist

198
"Mystery of Love"[40] Donna Summer Donna Summer
2

198
"We Are the World"[4] We Are the World USA for Africa
5
199
"One More Time" Sarafina! Original Soundtrack[41]
2

199
"Just Once" (live version) Grammy's Greatest Moments Volume III[42]
4

199
"Wish You Were Here"[43] If I Had My Way Nancy Wilson
7

199
"Our Time Has Come"[44] Cats Don't Dance with Carnie Wilson
7

199
"What U Give U Get Back"[45] Eye II Eye Scorpions
9

200
"What About Me?"[4] Kenny Rogers & Friends Kenny Rogers
0

200
"One Gift" In the Spirit: A Christmas Album[46] Michael McDonald
1

200
"If You Really Need Me Now"[47] On the Way to Love Patti Austin
1

Filmography[edit]
 1997: The Fearless Four as Buster (voice – English version)[48]
 2012: Suburgatory; himself (episode: "The Motherload") [26]

Awards and nominations[edit]

Grammy Awards[edit]
Ingram has won two Grammy Awards out of fourteen nominations.[49]
Yea
Nominated work Category Result
r

James Ingram Best New Artist Nominated

1982 "Just Once" Best Male Pop Vocal Performance Nominated

"One Hundred Ways" Best Male R&B Vocal Performance Won

"How You Do Keep the Music Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group
Nominated
Playing?" (with Patti Austin) with Vocals

1984
"P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)" Best R&B Song (songwriting with Quincy Jones) Nominated

"Party Animal" Best Male R&B Vocal Performance Nominated

Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group

Won
with Vocals
"Yah Mo B There" (with Michael
McDonald)
1985 Best R&B Song (songwriting with Quincy
Nominated
Jones, Rod Temperton and Michael McDonald)

It's Your Night Best Male R&B Vocal Performance Nominated

"Somewhere Out There" (with Linda Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group

1988 Nominated
Ronstadt) with Vocals

"I Don't Have the Heart" Best Male Pop Vocal Performance Nominated

1991
"The Secret Garden" (with Al B. Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group
Nominated
Sure, El DeBarge and Barry White) with Vocals
 Yea
Nominated work Category Result
r

Best Song Written for Visual

1995 "The Day I Fall in Love" Media (songwriting with Cliff Magness and Carole Nominated
Bayer Sager)

"When You Love

1996 Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals Nominated
Someone" (with Anita Baker)

Academy Award nominations[edit]

 1994: Best Original Song for "The Day I Fall in Love" from the motion picture Beethoven's
2nd (shared with Cliff Magness and Carole Bayer Sager)[20]
 1995: Best Original Song for "Look What Love Has Done" the motion picture Junior (shared
with Carole Bayer Sager, James Newton Howard, and Patty Smyth)[50]
Golden Globe Award nominations[edit]

 1994: Best Original Song for "The Day I Fall in Love" (shared with Cliff Magness and Carole Bayer
Sager)[51]
 1995: Best Original Song for "Look What Love Has Done" (shared with Carole Bayer Sager,
James Newton Howard, and Patty Smyth)[52]

References[edit]
1. ^ "Music Makers James Ingram". The HistoryMakers. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
2. ^ "James Ingram, Grammy-Winning R&B Singer, Dies at 66".  The Hollywood Reporter.
Retrieved January 29, 2019.
3. ^ Abram, Malcolm (January 29, 2019).  "Akron-born singer James Ingram dies at 66". Akron
Beacon Journal. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
4. ^ Jump up to:a b c d e f g h Sweeting, Adam.  "James Ingram obituary".  The Guardian.
Retrieved February 2,  2019.
5. ^ "Just Once".  Music VF. Retrieved  February 2, 2019.
6. ^ Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990.  ISBN  0-89820-089-X.
7. ^ "The 24th Annual Grammy Awards".  IMDB. Retrieved February 2,  2019.
8. ^ "The Godfather with James Ingram and John Marley". SCTV Series 4 Cycle 2.
Retrieved December 5,  2014.
9. ^ "The Hot 100  : Oct 20, 1990 | Billboard Chart Archive".  Billboard. Retrieved April 30,2014.
10. ^ Jump up to:a b Snapes, Laura. "James Ingram, R&B star and Michael Jackson collaborator, dies
aged 66". The Guardian. Retrieved February 2,  2019.
11. ^ Jump up to:a b "US R&B singer-songwriter James Ingram dies aged 66". BBC News.
Retrieved February 2,  2019.
12. ^ "The Hot 100  : Feb 19, 1983 | Billboard Chart Archive".  Billboard. Retrieved April 30,2014.
13. ^ "The 55th Academy Awards (1983) Nominees and Winners". AMPAS. Retrieved  February
2, 2019.
14. ^ "The Hot 100  : Mar 14, 1987 | Billboard Chart Archive".  Billboard. March 14, 1987.
Retrieved April 30, 2014.
15. ^ "Linda Ronstadt – Chart History".  Billboard.com. Retrieved February 2,  2019.
16. ^ "The 59th Academy Awards – 1987". Oscars.org. Retrieved  February 2, 2019.
17. ^ "James Ingram".  Grammy.com. Retrieved  February 2, 2019.
18. ^ White, Adam; Bronson, Fred (1993).  The Billboard Book of Number One Rhythm & Blues
Hits. New York: Billboard Books:Watson-Guptill Publications. p.  469. ISBN 9780823082858.
19. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004).  Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Search. ISBN 978-
0898201604.
20. ^ Jump up to:a b "1993 Academy Awards® Winners and History". Film Site. Retrieved  February
2,2019.
21. ^ "Beethoven's 2nd (1993)".  AFI. Retrieved  February 2, 2019.
22. ^ "The  Celebrity Duets  premiere: Hits and misses". Entertainment Weekly.
Retrieved February 2,  2019.
23. ^ "My People by Angie Stone". Song Facts. Retrieved  February 2, 2019.
24. ^ Michael, Hann. "Cliff Richard – review". The Guardian. Retrieved February 2,  2019.
25. ^ "Cliff Richard – The Soulicious Tour".  Cliff Richard Organisation. Archived from  the
original on June 16, 2012. Retrieved  June 5,  2012.
26. ^ Jump up to:a b "The Motherload". IMDB. Retrieved  February 2, 2019.
27. ^ Battle, Chelsea. "Space Shuttle Endeavour Exhibit Opens to the Public at the California
Science Center".  Los Angeles Sentinel. Retrieved February 2,  2019.
28. ^ "James Ingram, R&B Singing Star, Dead At 66".  Top-40 Charts. Retrieved February
2,2019.
29. ^ Rod, Pyle. "Newly Opened Space Shuttle Endeavour Exhibit Thrills California
Crowds". Space.com. Retrieved  February 2, 2019.
30. ^ Lee, Shanon. "R&B Legend James Ingram Dead At 66 After Battling Brain
Cancer". Forbes. Retrieved  August 29,  2019.
31. ^ "Michael Jackson co-writer James Ingram dies aged 66 after brain cancer". Metro. January
29, 2019. Retrieved August 29, 2019.
32. ^ Jump up to:a b c "James Ingram". riaa.com.
33. ^ Jump up to:a b "James Ingram: Billboard 200". billboard.com.
34. ^ Jump up to:a b "James Ingram: Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums".  billboard.com.
35. ^ "James Ingram: Top Gospel Albums".  billboard.com.
36. ^ Jump up to:a b "James Ingram".  officialcharts.com.
37. ^ "James Ingram: Hot 100". billboard.com.
38. ^ "James Ingram: Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs".  billboard.com.
39. ^ "James Ingram: Adult Contemporary Songs". billboard.com.
40. ^ "James Ingram / Donna Summer – Mystery of Love".  All Music. Retrieved  February 2,2019.
41. ^ ""One More Time"". ReverbNation. Retrieved February 2,  2019.
42. ^ "Grammy's Greatest Moments, Volume III: Various Artists". Amazon.com.
Retrieved November 23,  2011.
43. ^ "James Ingram – Wish You Were Here".  All Music. Retrieved  February 2, 2019.
44. ^ "Original Soundtrack Cats Don't Dance". All Music. Retrieved February 2,  2019.
45. ^ "Scorpions – Eye II Eye".  All Music. Retrieved  February 2, 2019.
46. ^ "Michael McDonald – One Gift".  All Music. Retrieved  February 2, 2019.
 47. ^ Ruhlmann, William. "Patti Austin – On the Way to Love".  All Music. Retrieved  February
2, 2019.
48. ^ "Fearless Four, The(1997)".  Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved February 2,  2019.
49. ^ "James Ingram".  Grammy.com.
50. ^ "1994 Academy Awards® Winners and History". Film Site. Retrieved  February 2, 2019.
51. ^ "Golden Globe nominations".  Variety. Retrieved February 2,  2019.
52. ^ "Film, TV Nominees for the Golden Globes". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February
2,2019.

External links[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has
media related to James
Ingram.

 Official website
 James Ingram at Find a Grave 
 James Ingram on IMDb 

hide

James Ingram

ur Night

Felt So Good

eal

ys You

(In the Light)

Once"

Hundred Ways"

, Come to Me"

Do You Keep the Music Playing?"

Mo B There"

t About Me?"

ys"

ewhere Out There"

Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Man"

Secret Garden (Sweet Seduction Suite)"

n't Have the Heart"

 Book:James Ingram

BNF: cb138954782 (data)

GND: 133147428

ISNI: 0000 0000 8384 9368

LCCN: n91081710

MusicBrainz: 1c9d555e-d20a-46d9-93a3-bf7e0d263ece

SNAC: w64470sd

VIAF: 56796520

WorldCat Identities: lccn-no2012138582
Categories: 

 1952 births
 2019 deaths
 20th-century American singers
 21st-century American singers
 African-American male singers
 African-American singer-songwriters
 American singer-songwriters
 American male singers
 American singers
 Grammy Award winners
 Musicians from Akron, Ohio
 Qwest Records artists
 Songwriters from Ohio
 Private Music artists
 Ballad musicians
 Burials at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills)
 Deaths from brain tumor
 Deaths from cancer in California
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