R&B singer James Ingram, 66
Credit to Author: NIKA ROQUE| Date: Wed, 30 Jan 2019 04:51:22 +0000
GRAMMY Award winning R&B singer James Ingram passed away early Wednesday morning (Manila time) although details of his death have yet to be released. He was 66 years old.
According to music website Billboard.com, Ingram’s friend and creative partner Debbie Allen first broke the news on her Twitter account, posting, “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.”
Ingram who frequently performed in Manila throughout his career started out in music with the band Revelation Funk. Besides his vocal gift, Ingram was also a talented musician and also played the keyboard for Ray Charles.
He rose to international stardom with his hit anthem “Just Once,” with frequent collaborator and music legend Quincy Jones.
Jones has expressed his grief on Twitter saying, “There are no words to convey how much my 
aches with the news of the passing of my baby brother, James Ingram. With that soulful, whisky sounding voice, James was simply magical. He was, & always will be, beyond compare. Rest In Peace my baby bro…You’ll be in my forever”
With 14 Grammy nominations to his name, Ingram won his first for the song “One Hundred Ways” as Best Male R&B Performance in 1981; followed by Best R&B Performance by a group or duo in 1984 for his duet with Michael McDonald “Yah Mo B There.”
As a songwriter, Ingram and Jones co-wrote Michael Jackson’s “P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing),” for the late King of Pop’s best-selling album “Thriller.”
Moreover, Ingram’s original movie theme songs also earned nods from the Golden Globe and Academy awards, namely for “The Day I Fall in Love” from the film “Beethoven” and “Look What Love Has Done” for “Junior.”
With his extensive body of work, Ingram has collaborated with such hitmakers as Patti Austin and Dolly Parton, among others.
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