# James Ingram
**James Ingram** (February 16, 1952 – January 29, 2019) was an American R&B singer, songwriter, and keyboardist from [Akron, Ohio](https://www.edgepedia.org/akron-ohio), who rose from session work to become a two-time Grammy winner and 14-time nominee, known for the hits "Just Once," "One Hundred Ways," "Yah Mo B There," and "I Don't Have the Heart."[1](https://www.grammy.com/artists/james-ingram/16870/) • [2](https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n91081710.html) The Library of Congress authority record distinguishes him, as a soul singer and composer born 1952 in Akron and died 2019, from other musicians sharing the name.[2](https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n91081710.html)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born / died | 1952, Akron, Ohio; January 29, 2019, Los Angeles[2](https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n91081710.html) • [3](https://www.discogs.com/artist/4800-James-Ingram) |
| Grammy record | Two wins from 14 nominations: Best R&B Vocal for "One Hundred Ways" and Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal for "Yah Mo B There"[1](https://www.grammy.com/artists/james-ingram/16870/) • [4](https://www.grammy.com/news/james-ingram-soulful-rb-singer-and-hit-songwriter-dies-66/) |
| Oscar nominations | Two, including Best Original Song nominations for "The Day I Fall in Love" (Beethoven's 2nd) and "Look What Love Has Done" (Junior)[4](https://www.grammy.com/news/james-ingram-soulful-rb-singer-and-hit-songwriter-dies-66/) • [5](https://www.laphil.com/people/james-ingram) • [11](https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1983) |
| Chart totals | 19 Adult Contemporary entries and 18 Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs entries; two Hot 100 No. 1s[6](https://www.npr.org/2019/01/31/690277901/the-unlikely-success-and-down-to-earth-soul-of-james-ingram) • [4](https://www.grammy.com/news/james-ingram-soulful-rb-singer-and-hit-songwriter-dies-66/) |
| Breakthrough | Lead vocals on "Just Once" and "One Hundred Ways" on Quincy Jones's The Dude (1981), after Jones heard a $50 demo[7](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/james-ingram-mn0000147082) • [8](https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/29/obituaries/james-ingram-dead.html) |
| Solo albums | Five, from It's Your Night (1983) to Stand (In the Light) (2008)[7](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/james-ingram-mn0000147082) • [4](https://www.grammy.com/news/james-ingram-soulful-rb-singer-and-hit-songwriter-dies-66/) |
| Songwriting | Co-wrote Michael Jackson's "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)" with Quincy Jones[4](https://www.grammy.com/news/james-ingram-soulful-rb-singer-and-hit-songwriter-dies-66/) |
## Early life and musical beginnings
Ingram was born in 1952 in Akron, Ohio, to Alistine and Henry Ingram. A self-taught musician inspired by the jazz organist Jimmy Smith, he taught himself piano as a youngster and sang in his church choir.[9](https://www.thehistorymakers.org/sites/default/files/A2007_272_EAD.pdf) In 1973 he co-wrote both sides of a single credited to the Christian All Stars of Akron, and in his late teens he joined Revelation Funk, a local band that opened for the [Ohio Players](https://www.edgepedia.org/ohio-players) and appeared in the 1975 film Dolemite.[7](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/james-ingram-mn0000147082)
**Move to Los Angeles.** Ingram stayed in Los Angeles as a session musician, playing local-bar dates with Revelation Funk before landing work that most aspiring musicians only dream about: singing background vocals and playing piano on [Ray Charles](https://www.edgepedia.org/ray-charles)'s recording sessions, playing keyboards behind the Coasters for Dick Clark, and recording background vocals for [Marvin Gaye](https://www.edgepedia.org/marvin-gaye).[7](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/james-ingram-mn0000147082) • [5](https://www.laphil.com/people/james-ingram) In a 2009 NPR interview he described himself at that stage as not a singer but a musician, playing for Ray Charles and for Carl Carlton of "She's A Bad Mamma Jamma."[10](https://www.npr.org/2009/08/11/111770016/in-your-ear-soul-singer-james-ingram) He first reached the Billboard R&B chart in 1980 twice over, as the writer of Carl Carlton's "This Feeling's Rated X-Tra" and as the vocalist on Zingara's "Love's Calling."[7](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/james-ingram-mn0000147082)
## Breakthrough with Quincy Jones
The turning point was a demo. Ingram recorded "Just Once," a song written by [Barry Mann](https://www.edgepedia.org/barry-mann) and [Cynthia Weil](https://www.edgepedia.org/cynthia-weil), for $50; [Quincy Jones](https://www.edgepedia.org/quincy-jones) heard it, loved the singer as much as the song, and called Ingram, who initially hung up on him.[8](https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/29/obituaries/james-ingram-dead.html) Jones chose Ingram to perform both "Just Once" and "One Hundred Ways" on The Dude, a multi-platinum album that AllMusic dates to March 1981 (the Los Angeles Philharmonic's biography says 1980).[7](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/james-ingram-mn0000147082) • [5](https://www.laphil.com/people/james-ingram)
Ingram was the singer, not the writer, of both songs. "Just Once" reached number 17 pop and number 11 R&B; "One Hundred Ways" reached number 14 pop and number 10 R&B, and both cracked the Top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100.[7](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/james-ingram-mn0000147082) • [8](https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/29/obituaries/james-ingram-dead.html) The album brought his first three of 14 total Grammy nominations, including Best New Artist, and his first win, for Best R&B Vocal for "One Hundred Ways."[7](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/james-ingram-mn0000147082) • [5](https://www.laphil.com/people/james-ingram) The New York Times obituary dates that win to 1982.[8](https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/29/obituaries/james-ingram-dead.html)
## Solo recording career and duets
Ingram released five solo albums, beginning with It's Your Night (July 1983), a Top Ten R&B LP, and ending with Stand (In the Light) (2008), co-produced by Quincy Jones.[7](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/james-ingram-mn0000147082) • [4](https://www.grammy.com/news/james-ingram-soulful-rb-singer-and-hit-songwriter-dies-66/) His hit singles outperformed his albums' profile: his first No. 1 came in 1982 with "Baby, Come to Me," a duet with [Patti Austin](https://www.edgepedia.org/patti-austin) that initially stiffed commercially before rocketing to the top of the pop chart after exposure on the soap opera [General Hospital](https://www.edgepedia.org/general-hospital); it had peaked at number 9 R&B on its first run.[4](https://www.grammy.com/news/james-ingram-soulful-rb-singer-and-hit-songwriter-dies-66/) • [6](https://www.npr.org/2019/01/31/690277901/the-unlikely-success-and-down-to-earth-soul-of-james-ingram) • [7](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/james-ingram-mn0000147082)
**"Yah Mo B There."** His duet with Michael McDonald, from It's Your Night, reached number 5 pop and number 19 R&B and won the Grammy for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal at the 27th Annual Grammy Awards; the song was also nominated for Rhythm & Blues Song, with writing credited to Ingram, Quincy Jones, McDonald, and [Rod Temperton](https://www.edgepedia.org/rod-temperton).[7](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/james-ingram-mn0000147082) • [1](https://www.grammy.com/artists/james-ingram/16870/)
**"Somewhere Out There."** His duet with [Linda Ronstadt](https://www.edgepedia.org/linda-ronstadt), from the animated film [An American Tail](https://www.edgepedia.org/an-american-tail), rose to number two on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1987 and won the Grammy for Song of the Year, which went to the writers Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil, and [James Horner](https://www.edgepedia.org/james-horner); the recording itself was nominated for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.[6](https://www.npr.org/2019/01/31/690277901/the-unlikely-success-and-down-to-earth-soul-of-james-ingram) • [7](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/james-ingram-mn0000147082) In 1990 he topped the Hot 100 on his own with "I Don't Have the Heart," his second chart-topping single.[7](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/james-ingram-mn0000147082) • [4](https://www.grammy.com/news/james-ingram-soulful-rb-singer-and-hit-songwriter-dies-66/)
## Songwriting and collaborations
Ingram co-wrote [Michael Jackson](https://www.edgepedia.org/michael-jackson)'s "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)" with Quincy Jones and worked with Jackson and Jones on "We Are the World," the 1985 all-star charity single and video.[4](https://www.grammy.com/news/james-ingram-soulful-rb-singer-and-hit-songwriter-dies-66/) The Los Angeles Philharmonic's biography says he was hand-picked by Jones to perform on the recording, which raised more than $100 million for African famine relief; the Recording Academy's obituary places the single in 1985.[5](https://www.laphil.com/people/james-ingram) • [4](https://www.grammy.com/news/james-ingram-soulful-rb-singer-and-hit-songwriter-dies-66/)
By 1986, Ingram-assisted recordings included work for [George Benson](https://www.edgepedia.org/george-benson), Nancy Wilson, the Pointer Sisters, Jeffrey Osborne, Kenny Rogers ("What About Me?", a number 15 pop hit), and Steve Winwood, whose 1986 album Back in the High Life he contributed to.[7](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/james-ingram-mn0000147082) • [6](https://www.npr.org/2019/01/31/690277901/the-unlikely-success-and-down-to-earth-soul-of-james-ingram) His soundtrack work spanned The Color Purple, Beverly Hills Cop II, City Slickers, and Wildcats.[6](https://www.npr.org/2019/01/31/690277901/the-unlikely-success-and-down-to-earth-soul-of-james-ingram) Discogs also records vocal work for house-music producers such as Masters At Work, and notes that he should not be confused with Jimmy Ingram of the family soul group Ingram; he was the older brother of Phillip Ingram.[3](https://www.discogs.com/artist/4800-James-Ingram)
## Awards and recognition
The Recording Academy lists Ingram as a two-time Grammy winner and 14-time nominee.[1](https://www.grammy.com/artists/james-ingram/16870/) His wins were Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male for "One Hundred Ways" and Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal for "Yah Mo B There."[4](https://www.grammy.com/news/james-ingram-soulful-rb-singer-and-hit-songwriter-dies-66/) Among his nominations were Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male for "I Don't Have the Heart" (1991), Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male for It's Your Night material (1985), a pop-category nomination in 1996, and a nomination in Written Specifically for a Motion Picture or for Television for "The Day I Fall in Love" from Beethoven's 2nd.[1](https://www.grammy.com/artists/james-ingram/16870/)
His later film-song work earned two Academy Award nominations for Best Original Song, in back-to-back years 1993 and 1994: for co-writing the Dolly Parton duet "The Day I Fall in Love," from Beethoven's 2nd, and Patty Smyth's "Look What Love Has Done," from Junior.[4](https://www.grammy.com/news/james-ingram-soulful-rb-singer-and-hit-songwriter-dies-66/) • [6](https://www.npr.org/2019/01/31/690277901/the-unlikely-success-and-down-to-earth-soul-of-james-ingram) His duet with Patti Austin, "How Do You Keep the Music Playing," featured in the 1982 film Best Friends, received a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Duo/Group and an Academy Award nomination for Original Song.[5](https://www.laphil.com/people/james-ingram)
## By the numbers
- 2 Grammy wins from 14 nominations[1](https://www.grammy.com/artists/james-ingram/16870/)
- 2 Academy Award nominations for Best Original Song[6](https://www.npr.org/2019/01/31/690277901/the-unlikely-success-and-down-to-earth-soul-of-james-ingram) • [5](https://www.laphil.com/people/james-ingram)
- 19 Adult Contemporary chart entries and 18 Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs entries[6](https://www.npr.org/2019/01/31/690277901/the-unlikely-success-and-down-to-earth-soul-of-james-ingram)
- 2 Billboard Hot 100 No. 1s: "Baby, Come to Me" (1982) and "I Don't Have the Heart" (1990)[4](https://www.grammy.com/news/james-ingram-soulful-rb-singer-and-hit-songwriter-dies-66/)
- 5 solo albums, 1983 to 2008[7](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/james-ingram-mn0000147082)
## Style and place in quiet storm
NPR characterizes Ingram as a soulful crooner whose mannered, grown-and-sexy music became a staple of the Quiet Storm R&B radio format, alongside work by Jeffrey Osborne, Luther Vandross, George Benson, and Deniece Williams.[6](https://www.npr.org/2019/01/31/690277901/the-unlikely-success-and-down-to-earth-soul-of-james-ingram) The New York Times described his voice as technically precise, crisp, and reserved, yet full of audacious feeling.[8](https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/29/obituaries/james-ingram-dead.html) NPR's assessment draws a distinction with his peers: Ingram never became an otherworldly soul genius in the mold of Al Green or Luther Vandross, but remained an intrinsically collaborative sideman who happened to become the choir's featured soloist.[6](https://www.npr.org/2019/01/31/690277901/the-unlikely-success-and-down-to-earth-soul-of-james-ingram) AllMusic similarly describes a five-decade career spent alternating between exceptional journeyman and reluctant star solo recording artist.[7](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/james-ingram-mn0000147082)
## Later years, death, and legacy
After the 1980s peak, Ingram continued recording through the 1990s and released his final album, Stand (In the Light), in 2008.[4](https://www.grammy.com/news/james-ingram-soulful-rb-singer-and-hit-songwriter-dies-66/) He died on January 29, 2019, in Los Angeles, at age 66.[2](https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n91081710.html) • [3](https://www.discogs.com/artist/4800-James-Ingram)
## References
1. [James Ingram Grammy Awards and Nominations, Recording Academy](https://www.grammy.com/artists/james-ingram/16870/)
2. [Ingram, James, 1952-2019, Library of Congress authority record](https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n91081710.html)
3. [James Ingram, Discogs](https://www.discogs.com/artist/4800-James-Ingram)
4. [James Ingram, Soulful R&B Singer And Hit Songwriter, Dies At 66, Recording Academy](https://www.grammy.com/news/james-ingram-soulful-rb-singer-and-hit-songwriter-dies-66/)
5. [James Ingram, Los Angeles Philharmonic biography](https://www.laphil.com/people/james-ingram)
6. [The Unlikely Success And Down-To-Earth Soul Of James Ingram, NPR](https://www.npr.org/2019/01/31/690277901/the-unlikely-success-and-down-to-earth-soul-of-james-ingram)
7. [James Ingram, AllMusic biography](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/james-ingram-mn0000147082)
8. [James Ingram, a Hitmaking Voice of '80s R&B, Is Dead at 66, The New York Times](https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/29/obituaries/james-ingram-dead.html)
9. [Finding Aid to The HistoryMakers Video Oral History with James Ingram](https://www.thehistorymakers.org/sites/default/files/A2007_272_EAD.pdf)
10. [In Your Ear: Soul Singer James Ingram, NPR interview (2009)](https://www.npr.org/2009/08/11/111770016/in-your-ear-soul-singer-james-ingram)
11. [oscars.org](https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1983)
---
*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Music › Musicians and ensembles › Individual musical biographies › Pop and R&B singer-songwriters › R&B and soul, 1970s and 1980s › Quiet storm and pop R&B*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license