James Ingram Dies At 66
• Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter James Ingram has died at the age of 66. The news of Ingram’s passing was initially posted on Twitter by his longtime friend, Debbie Allen, who said, “I have lost my dearest friend and creative partner James Ingram to the Celestial Choir. He will always be cherished, loved and remembered for his genius, his love of family and his humanity. I am blessed to have been so close. We will forever speak his name.”
Over the course of his successful career Ingram won two Grammy Awards — “One Hundred Ways” won Best Male R&B Performance in 1981 and “Yah Mo B There,” his duet with Michael McDonaldwon Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals in 1984. According to Billboard, which keeps track of such valuable information, over the course of his career Ingram charted nine hits on the Hot 100, including two No. 1s: 1983’s “Baby Come to Me” with Patti Austin, and 1990’s “I Don’t Have the Heart.”
He also won two Grammy Awards — “One Hundred Ways” won Best Male R&B Performance in 1981 and “Yah Mo B There,” his duet with Michael McDonaldwon Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals in 1984. Ingram was also nominated for back-to-back Best Original Song Oscars in 1993 and 1994, for co-writing “The Day I Fall in Love” from Beethoven’s 2nd, and “Look What Love Has Done” from Junior.
Other Top 20 Hot 100 hits included “Just Once” (Quincy Jones featuring James Ingram, which reached No. 17 in 1981), “Yah Mo Be There” (No. 19 in 1984) and “Somewhere Out There” with Linda Ronstadt (No. 2 in 1987). Ingram also enjoyed success as a songwriter, co-writing Michael Jackson‘s hit “P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing),” from Thriller, as well as songs recorded by Pointer Sisters, George Benson, Ray Charles, Shalamar and others.
