James Ingram
Ingram in 1998
Born
James Edward Ingram

(1952-02-16)February 16, 1952
Akron, Ohio, U.S.
DiedJanuary 29, 2019(2019-01-29) (aged 66)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Resting placeForest Lawn Memorial Park, Hollywood Hills, California, U.S.
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • record producer
Years active1973–2019
Spouse
Debra Robinson
​
(m. 1975)​
RelativesPhillip Ingram (brother)
Musical career
OriginLos Angeles, California, U.S.
Genres
Instrument(s)Vocals, keyboards
Labels
Websitejamesingramsmusic.com

James Edward Ingram (February 16, 1952 – January 29, 2019)[1][2] was an American singer, songwriter and record producer. 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 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.

Early life

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

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, Kim Carnes, 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 project "We Are the World".[4]

Ingram performing in 2012

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

Ingram died in Los Angeles of brain cancer on January 29, 2019, aged 66.[30][31]

Discography

Studio albums

List of studio albums, with selected chart positions
Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications
US
[32]		 US R&B
[33]		 US Gospel
[34]		 AUS
[35][36]		 UK
[37]
It's Your Night 46 10 — — 25
Never Felt So Good 123 37 — 100 72
It's Real 117 44 — 99 —
Always You — 74 — 195 —
Stand
  • Released: 2008
  • Label: Intering
 — 63 18 — —
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Compilation albums

List of compilation albums, with selected chart positions
Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications
US
[32]		 US R&B
[33]		 AUS
[36]
Greatest Hits: The Power of Great Music 168 — 158 RIAA: Gold[38]
Forever More (Love Songs, Hits & Duets) 165 94 — —
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Singles

List of singles, with selected chart positions
Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
US
[39]		 US R&B
[40]		 US A/C
[41]		 AUS
[35][42][36]		 UK
[37]
"Just Once"
(with Quincy Jones)		 1981 17 11 7 — — — The Dude
"One Hundred Ways"
(with Quincy Jones)		 14 10 5 — — —
"Baby, Come to Me"
(with Patti Austin)		 1982 1 9 1 38 11 Every Home Should Have One
"How Do You Keep the Music Playing?"
(with Patti Austin)		 1983 45 6 5 — — — It's Your Night
"Party Animal" — 21 — — — —
"Yah Mo B There"
(with Michael McDonald)		 19 5 — — 12 —
"There's No Easy Way" 1984 58 14 7 — — —
"She Loves Me (The Best That I Can Be)" — 59 19 — — —
"What About Me?"
(with Kenny Rogers & Kim Carnes)		 15 57 1 — 92 — What About Me?
"It's Your Night" 1985 — — — — 82[37] — It's Your Night
"America (The Dream Goes On)"
(with John Williams and the Boston Pops Orchestra)		 — — — — — — Boston Pops: America, The Dream Goes On
"Always" 1986 — 27 — — — — Never Felt So Good
"I Just Can't Let Go"
(with David Pack & Michael McDonald)		 — — 13 — — — Anywhere You Go
"Never Felt So Good" — 86 — — — — Never Felt So Good
"Somewhere Out There"
(with Linda Ronstadt)		 2 — 4 31 8 An American Tail
"Better Way" 1987 — 66 — 98 — — Beverly Hills Cop II
"It's Real" 1989 — 8 — — 83 — It's Real
"I Wanna Come Back" — 18 — — — —
"(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Man" — 30 — — — —
"The Secret Garden (Sweet Seduction Suite)"
(with Quincy Jones feat. Al B. Sure!, El DeBarge and Barry White)		 1990 31 1 26 — 67 — Back on the Block
"I Don't Have the Heart" 1 53 2 78 — — It's Real
"When Was the Last Time the Music Made You Cry" — 81 29 — — —
"Where Did My Heart Go" 1991 — — 23 184 — — City Slickers
"Get Ready" — 59 — — — — The Greatest Hits: The Power of Great Music
"Someone Like You" 1993 — — 34 — — — Always You
"The Day I Fall in Love"
(with Dolly Parton)		 1994 — — 36 — 64 — Beethoven's 2nd
"I Don't Want to Be Alone for Christmas (Unless I'm Alone with You)" — — — — — — A Very Merry Chipmunk
"When You Love Someone"
(with Anita Baker)		 1995 — 71 39 — — — Forget Paris
"Give Me Forever (I Do)"
(with John Tesh)		 1998 66 — 5 — — — Pure Movies
"Forever More (I'll Be the One)"
(with John Tesh)		 1999 — — 12 — — — One World
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Other appearances

Appearances of James Ingram on other artists' songs
Title Year Album Artist
"Mystery of Love"[43] 1982 Donna Summer Donna Summer
"We Are the World"[4] 1985 We Are the World USA for Africa
"One More Time" 1992 Sarafina! Original Soundtrack[44]
"Just Once" (live version) 1994 Grammy's Greatest Moments Volume III[45]
"Wish You Were Here"[46] 1997 If I Had My Way Nancy Wilson
"Our Time Has Come"[47] 1997 Cats Don't Dance Carnie Wilson
"What U Give U Get Back"[48] 1999 Eye II Eye Scorpions
"What About Me?"[4] 2000 Kenny Rogers & Friends Kenny Rogers
"One Gift" 2001 In the Spirit: A Christmas Album[49] Michael McDonald
"If You Really Need Me Now"[50] 2001 On the Way to Love Patti Austin

Filmography

Awards and nominations

Grammy Awards

Ingram has won two Grammy Awards out of fourteen nominations.[52]

Year Nominated work Category Result
1982 James IngramBest New ArtistNominated
"Just Once"Best Male Pop Vocal PerformanceNominated
"One Hundred Ways"Best Male R&B Vocal PerformanceWon
1984 "How You Do Keep the Music Playing?" (with Patti Austin)Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with VocalsNominated
"P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)"Best R&B Song (songwriting with Quincy Jones)Nominated
"Party Animal"Best Male R&B Vocal PerformanceNominated
1985 "Yah Mo B There" (with Michael McDonald)Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with VocalsWon
Best R&B Song (songwriting with Quincy Jones, Rod Temperton and Michael McDonald)Nominated
It's Your NightBest Male R&B Vocal PerformanceNominated
1988 "Somewhere Out There" (with Linda Ronstadt)Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with VocalsNominated
1991 "I Don't Have the Heart"Best Male Pop Vocal PerformanceNominated
"The Secret Garden" (with Al B. Sure, El DeBarge and Barry White)Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with VocalsNominated
1995 "The Day I Fall in Love"Best Song Written for Visual Media (songwriting with Cliff Magness and Carole Bayer Sager)Nominated
1996 "When You Love Someone" (with Anita Baker)Best Pop Collaboration with VocalsNominated

Academy Award nominations

Golden Globe Award nominations

  • 1994: Best Original Song for "The Day I Fall in Love" (shared with Cliff Magness and Carole Bayer Sager)[54]
  • 1995: Best Original Song for "Look What Love Has Done" (shared with Carole Bayer Sager, James Newton Howard, and Patty Smyth)[55]

References

  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. January 29, 2019. 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. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Sweeting, Adam (January 30, 2019). "James Ingram obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
  5. ↑ "Just Once". Music VF. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
  6. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (June 1991). Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990. Record Research. 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. 1 2 Snapes, Laura (January 30, 2019). "James Ingram, R&B star and Michael Jackson collaborator, dies aged 66". The Guardian. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
  11. 1 2 "US R&B singer-songwriter James Ingram dies aged 66". BBC News. January 30, 2019. 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. Archived from the original on September 5, 2012. 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. 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. 1 2 "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 (October 27, 2011). "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. 1 2 "The Motherload". IMDb. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
  27. ↑ Battle, Chelsea (November 2012). "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 (October 31, 2012). "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. 1 2 "James Ingram: Billboard 200". Billboard.
  33. 1 2 "James Ingram: Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums". Billboard.
  34. ↑ "James Ingram: Top Gospel Albums". Billboard.
  35. 1 2 Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 148. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  36. 1 2 3 "Bubbling Down Under Week Commencing October 21, 1991". Bubbling Down Under. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  37. 1 2 3 "James Ingram - full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company.
  38. 1 2 3 4 "American certifications – James Ingram". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
  39. ↑ "James Ingram: Hot 100". Billboard.
  40. ↑ "James Ingram: Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard.
  41. ↑ "James Ingram: Adult Contemporary Songs". Billboard.
  42. ↑ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 137.
  43. ↑ "James Ingram / Donna Summer – Mystery of Love". AllMusic. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
  44. ↑ ""One More Time"". ReverbNation. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
  45. ↑ "Grammy's Greatest Moments, Volume III: Various Artists". Amazon. Retrieved November 23, 2011.
  46. ↑ "James Ingram – Wish You Were Here". AllMusic. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
  47. ↑ "Original Soundtrack Cats Don't Dance". AllMusic. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
  48. ↑ "Scorpions – Eye II Eye". AllMusic. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
  49. ↑ "Michael McDonald – One Gift". AllMusic. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
  50. ↑ Ruhlmann, William. "Patti Austin – On the Way to Love". AllMusic. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
  51. ↑ "Fearless Four, The (1997)". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
  52. ↑ "James Ingram". Grammy.com. November 23, 2020.
  53. ↑ "1994 Academy Awards® Winners and History". Film Site. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
  54. ↑ "Golden Globe nominations". Variety. December 23, 1993. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
  55. ↑ "Film, TV Nominees for the Golden Globes". Los Angeles Times. December 23, 1994. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
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