The music industry has lost another talented soul. Grammy Award-winning R&B singer, James Ingram reportedly passed away on Tuesday (Jan. 29), CNN confirms. He reportedly died from brain cancer at the age of 66.
Ingram’s longtime friend and collaborator, Debbie Allen also confirmed the news on Twitter. “I have lost my dearest friend and creative partner James Ingram to the Celestial Choir,” she tweeted. “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.”
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.❤️ pic.twitter.com/TDJfpbbJWa
— Debbie Allen (@msdebbieallen) January 29, 2019
Quincy Jones also sent a statement to Billboard. “There are no words to convey how much my heart aches with the news of the passing of my baby brother James Ingram,” Jones said. “With that soulful, whisky sounding voice, James Ingram was simply magical. From the minute I first heard his voice on the demo tape for ‘Just Once,’ to ‘One Hundred Ways,’ his classic duet with Patti Austin ‘How Do You Keep the Music Playing,’ ‘Secret Garden,’ ‘We Are the World,’ and all of our recordings, every beautiful note that James sang pierced your essence and comfortably made itself at home. But it was really no surprise because James was a beautiful human being, with a heart the size of the moon. James Ingram was, and always will be, beyond compare. Rest In Peace baby brother. You will be in my heart forever.”
Ingram’s career reportedly spanned over the course of more than two decades. He earned nine singles on the Billboard Hot 100 throughout his career, including 1983’s “Baby Come to Me” with Patti Austin,” I Don’t Have the Heart” in 1990, and 1987’s “Somewhere Out There.”
He also co-wrote top-charting songs for Michael Jackson like “P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing),” which appeared on Jackson’s historic Thriller album.
Ingram was a two-time Grammy-winner. He collected the prestigious award for his 1981 performance of “One Hundred Days” and another one for his 1984 duet with Michael McDonald, “Yah Mo B There.” He also received nominations for best original songs at the 1993 and 1994 Oscars for writing “The Day I Fall in Love” from Beethoven’s 2nd and “Look What Love Has Done” from Junior respectively.
The talented singer is reportedly survived by his wife and family. Catch all of the reactions from celebrities and friends below.
Deeply saddens me. #JamesIngram one of the best to ever do it. Our family will miss him. https://t.co/ATAjuEIvKl
— Kim Fields (@KimVFields) January 29, 2019
2-time Grammy winning soul legend James Ingram passes away today. RIP my friend.
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) January 29, 2019
The Great James Ingram (I always dubbed him “of the notorious Ingram Brothers”—-for his brother Phillip also a monster musician/singer in his own right was in the band Switch…which… https://t.co/lzyJ1I232T
— B.R.O.theR. ?uestion (@questlove) January 29, 2019
RIP to the Soul Legend James Ingram…Sad Loss To Our Music Family…We Salute You, Your Family And Your Legacy
— DJ Premier (@REALDJPREMIER) January 29, 2019