James Ingram's journey as a musician began during his sophomore year at the University of Akron, when he left town to pursue his dreams with his band, Revelation Funk, in Los Angeles. Although the band's time together was short-lived, Ingram's talent soon caught the attention of the legendary Ray Charles, who hired him as a piano player.
Ingram's big break came when Quincy Jones discovered his unique voice on "Just Once." Jones was so impressed that he invited Ingram to sing on his album, which would go on to win a Grammy Award for Best R&B Vocal Performance, with Ingram's powerful vocals taking center stage.
In 1984, Ingram won another Grammy Award, this time alongside Michael McDonald, for their duet "Yah Mo B There." This prestigious recognition cemented Ingram's status as a talented vocalist and songwriter.
Tragedy struck Ingram's personal life when his mother, Alistine Wilson Ingram, and father, Henry Ingram Sr., passed away within a year of each other, in 2001 and 2002, respectively. Despite this setback, Ingram found solace in his music and married his childhood sweetheart, Debra Robinson.
Throughout his illustrious career, Ingram has played keyboards on some of the most iconic songs in music history, including Michael Jackson's "PYT" and Carl Carlton's "Bad Mama Jama." He is a multi-instrumentalist, skilled on the keyboards, guitar, and electric bass, and continues to make music that inspires and delights fans around the world.
