Overview
James Edward Ingram (February 16, 1952 – January 29, 2019) was an American singer, songwriter, record producer and keyboardist known for a smooth, emotive vocal style and high-profile duets. Born in Akron, Ohio, he rose to prominence in the 1970s and 1980s as both a solo performer and a collaborator on pop, R&B and soundtrack projects. Over the course of his career he earned multiple industry honors, including two Grammy Awards, and received two Academy Award nominations for Best Original Song (Oscar nominations).
Early life and career beginnings
Ingram grew up in Akron and began performing locally before moving into session work and songwriting. As a keyboardist and backing vocalist he contributed to recordings by a variety of artists, and gradually built a reputation in the Los Angeles music scene. His background as a musician and arranger informed his work as a solo artist and collaborator, allowing him to bridge pop sensibilities with R&B phrasing.
Major songs and collaborations
Ingram is remembered for several charting singles and well-known duets. He achieved a No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with the 1982 duet "Baby, Come to Me" with Patti Austin—an example of his success in pairing with other vocalists—and later reached No. 1 as a solo artist with "I Don't Have the Heart" in 1990. His recording of "Somewhere Out There" with Linda Ronstadt for the animated film An American Tail brought his voice to a wide family audience and earned critical attention for the film's soundtrack.
- Notable duet partners: Patti Austin and Linda Ronstadt.
- Soundtrack work: songs written for or featured in films and television.
- Session roles: keyboardist, backing vocalist and arranger for other artists.
Throughout his career he collaborated with producers and performers across genres, contributing to projects that blended pop, soul and cinematic songwriting. Further information about his recordings and chart history can be found in discographies and music databases (biographical sources).
Awards and recognition
Ingram received industry recognition for both performance and songwriting. He won two Grammy Awards during his career and was twice nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song (Academy Award details). These honors reflect his dual role as a performer who could deliver hit singles and as a songwriter whose work was used in major motion pictures and television productions.
Style, influence and legacy
Known for a warm baritone and expressive ballad delivery, Ingram's style emphasized melodic clarity and emotional nuance. He is often cited in discussions of late-20th-century R&B and adult contemporary singers who successfully crossed into mainstream pop and soundtrack work. Musicians and vocalists who value lyrical phrasing and duet interplay point to his recordings as exemplars of the form. For more on his artistic contributions and later projects, consult archives and retrospectives (career overview, collaborations).
Death and posthumous recognition
James Ingram died on January 29, 2019, at age 66 in Los Angeles after battling brain cancer. News accounts reported on his passing and the outpouring of tributes highlighted both his hit recordings and his influence on peers. Obituaries and memorial pieces provide summaries of his life and work (coverage of "Somewhere Out There", film soundtrack notes, reports of his death).
Selected recordings, collaborations and further reading are available in music reference works and dedicated artist profiles. His work remains part of the late 20th-century canon of pop and R&B balladry, and his recordings continue to be played on adult contemporary and classic R&B radio formats.