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play an array of instruments from drums to synthesizer. He moved to Los Angeles in 1973 to try to make it in the music industry and had several lean years before he was discovered by Quincy Jones, who had his young protégé record three songs for the 1981 album The Dude--"Just Once," "One Hundred Ways," and "The Dude." The success of these tracks led to three Grammy nominations in 1982-- best new artist, best pop male vocal, and best R&B male vocal. He won in the third category for his performance on "One Hundred Ways." Ingram followed the success of his work on The Dude with a 1983 duet with singer Patti Austin. The single, "Baby, Come to Me," peaked at #1 on the charts after it got airplay on the soap opera, General Hospital. Ingram would go on to record a solo album in 1983, but his real success came in the form of further duets. In 1984 his duet with Michael McDonald "Yah Mo Be There" earned him a second Grammy for best R&B performance by a duo or group. Ingram had a second hit in 1984, with Kenny Rogers and Kim Carnes, with the number 15 single "What About Me?" And he offered a soulful turn to the phenomenally successful charity single "We Are the World" in 1985. Similarly, a tear-jerking 1987 duet with pop vocalist Linda Ronstadt, "Somewhere Out There," from Steven Spielberg's animated An American Tail, landed Ingram at number two. The song went on to win song of the year honors at the Grammys that year--the event's most coveted prize, finally making Ingram a household name.



After working again with Patti Austin in 1988 on her album The Real Me, Ingram rededicated himself to his solo career. Breaking away from Quincy Jones, Ingram hooked up with producer Thom Bell on Warner Brothers, which resulted in Ingram's first number one solo hit, 1990's "I Don't Have the Heart." During the rest of the decade, Ingram contributed to a number of soundtracks to movies ranging from Sarafina! to City Slickers. His career culminated with a turn on the television singing competition Celebrity Duets, where he was recognized as the king of the pop duet.