Photo from Debbie Allen’s Twitter post
Two-time Grammy Award winner and R&B superstar James Ingram has died at age 66.
Longtime friend Debbie Allen confirmed the news via Twitter.
She posted, “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.”
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
Baby, Come to Me, which is a duet with Patti Austin, was James’ first No. 1 pop hit. The song was released in 1982. It was followed with I Don’t Have the Heart in 1990.
He was well known for his soundtrack work, most notably a duet with Linda Ronstadt on “Somewhere Out There,” for the 1986 animated film “An American Tail.” It reached No. 2 on the pop chart and won the Grammy for Song of the Year (with the award going to songwriters James Horner and Cynthia Weil).
His other chart-toppers included 1981’s Just Once (Quincy Jones featuring James Ingram), 1984’s What About Me? a collaboration with Kenny Rogers and Kim Carnes that reached No. 1 on the adult contemporary chart, and The Secret Garden (Sweet Seduction Suite), a cut from Jones’ Back on the Block album that went to No. 1 at R&B in 1990.
Information about the official cause of death or funeral plans has not been released.
