James Ingram (born February 16, 1956 in Akron, Ohio) singing "One Hundred Ways" is an American soul musician, famous for his smooth vocal performances. Apart from being a great crooner or crooning he is also a producer and songwriter.
Life and work
As a self-taught musician who plays piano, guitar, bass, drums and synthesizer, Ingram began his career in the 70's as part of the band Revelation Funk starring Bernard Lawson Sr also from Akron, Ohio.
During this time, Ingram developed a reputation in the Los Angeles area as a sess
ion vocalist, and came to the attention of ex-Motown songwriter and producer Lamont Dozier. Dozier invited Ingram to contribute vocals to some material; one such song, "Love's Calling," garnered some airplay. The remainder of the material surfaced in 1980 on an album entitled Zingara.
In 1980, Ingr
am provided the vocals to "Just Once" and "One Hundred Ways" on Quincy Jones's album The Dude. He won a Grammy award for best R &B or rhythm and blues vocal performance for his work on Jones' album, "The Dude." Ingram's debut album, It's Your Night, appeared in 1983, including the ballad "There's No Easy Way." He also worked with other great musical artists such as Ray Charles, Michael McDonald, Patti Austin, Anita Baker, Viktor Lazlo, Nancy Wilson, Natalie Cole, and Kenny Rogers.
Ingram performed two solos on the 1985 recording and video of "We Are the World" and was featured on "Somewhere Out There," a duet with Linda Ronstadt on the soundtrack to the 1986 film An American Tail. He also won a 1985 Grammy Award for "Yah Mo B There," a duet with Michael McDonald. He also co
-wrote "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)" that was recorded by Michael Jackson on his blockbuster Thriller.
During the summer of 2006, James participated in the U.S. television reality show Celebrity Duets as a duet partner. The show combined professional vocalists, of different musical genre, with ente
rtainers of different backgrounds in a weekly elimination competition. The winner of the contest was Alfonso Ribeiro. The prize was a monetary donation sent to a charity of the winner's choice.
Singles
1981:
"Just Once" [with Quincy Jones] - US #17
1982:
"One Hundred Ways" [with Quincy Jones] -
US #14
1983:
"Baby, Come To Me" [with Patti Austin] - US #1 for 2 weeks, UK #11
"How Do You Keep The Music Playing?" - US #45
"Party Animal"
1984:
"She Loves Me (The Best That I Can Be)"
"There's No Easy Way" - US #58
"What About Me" [with Kim Carnes and Kenny Rogers] - US #15, UK #92
"Yah
Mo B There" [with Michael McDonald] - US #19, UK #12
"It's Your Night" - UK #82
1986:
"Always"
"Never Felt So Good"
1987:
"Somewhere Out There" [with Linda Ronstadt] - US #2, UK #8
"Better Way"
1989:
"A Natural Man (You Make Me Feel Like)"
"It's Real" - UK #83
"I Wanna Come Back"
1990:
"I Don't Have The Heart" - #1 for 1 week
"Secret Garden" (with Quincy Jones, Al B Sure, El DeBarge and Barry White) - UK #67
1991:
"Get Ready"
"When Was The Last Time The Music Made You Cry?"
"Where Did My Heart Go"
1994:
"The Day I Fall In Love" (with Dolly Parton) - UK #64
Discography
Alb
ums
It's Your Night (1983)
Never Felt So Good (1986)
It's Real (1989)
The Power of Great Music (greatest hits disc; 1991)
Always You (1993)
Forever More: The Best of James Ingram (1999)
similar artists include:
Peabo Bryson, Luther Ingram, Keith Washington, Luther Vandross, R. Kelly, Billy Oc
ean, Neville brothers
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A great classic...that still sounds great 2day.
YEAAAAHHHH!!!!