James Ingram

James Ingram, who died from brain cancer at the age of 66 on 29th January 2019, was a highly acclaimed American R&B singer whose collaborations with many artists led to chart hits and several major award nominations.

Born in Ohio, he moved to Los Angeles where he developed as a musician and performer and played with a band called Revelation Funk. He made his recording debut on Quincy Jones's 1981 album 'The Dude' singing the Grammy-nominated track 'Just Once', which went to number 17 on Billboard's Hot 100, and the Grammy-winning 'One Hundred Ways', which reached number 14 on the 100 in 1982. The single 'Baby, Come to Me' (1983) with Patti Austin topped the Hot 100 and his 1983 songs 'How Do You Keep the Music Playing?', 'Party Animal' and 'P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)' (recorded by Michael Jackson) earned Grammy nominations. He earned another nomination in 1984 for his album 'It's Your Night', which went to number ten on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Chart and he won for Best R&B Performance By a Duo Or Group With Vocal for 'Yah Mo B There'.

He featured with Kim Carnes on Kenny Rogers' 'What About Me?' in 1984 which reached number 15 on the Hot 100 and he joined Linda Ronstadt on the Grammy and Academy Award-nominated 'Somewhere Out There' (1987) from the film 'An American Tail', which hit number two on the 100. 'I Don't Have the Heart' (1990) topped the chart and received a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Vocal Performance. 'When You Love Someone' (1995) with Anita Baker reached number 20 on the Adult R&B Songs Chart and picked up a further Grammy nomination. Ingram participated in the all-star track 'We Are the World' and his songs appeared in many movies including Steven Spielberg's 'The Color Purple' (1985).