Ingram went from playing local bars with Revelation Funk to Los Angeles, where he landed the types of gigs that most aspiring musicians only dream about: singing background vocals and playing piano for Ray Charlesβ recording studio sessions; recording studio sessions and playing keyboards behind the Coasters for Dick Clark; and recording background vocals for his mentor, Marvin Gaye.
Then fate brought Ingram together with Quincy Jones and to a pivotal breakthrough in his career. Up to this point, Ingram had not yet surfaced as a solo artist, but after a chance listen to Ingramβs demo of βJust Onceβ β which had been recorded for the sum of $50 β Jones immediately recognized the man, the voice and the music as the musical triumvirate that would both captivate listeners and command the music industryβs attention.
Jones quickly chose Ingram to perform both βJust Onceβ and βOne Hundred Waysβ on Jonesβ upcoming album, The Dude. Released in 1980, The Dude was a multi-platinum international success and resulted in three Grammy nominations for Ingram: Best New Artist, Best Pop Male Vocal, and Best R&B Vocal for βOne Hundred Ways,β for which he won his first Grammy. Ingram also made Grammy history when β in his first live performance ever as a singer β he performed βJust Onceβ as the telecastβs opening act and became the first artist to open a Grammy ceremony with a ballad and the only artist to win a Grammy without having his own album in release. The Dude remains the most Grammy-nominated album in history and marked the first of 15 nominations Ingram has received to date (see attached award list and discography for complete information).
After this stunning debut, Ingramβs much-anticipated 1983 solo album, Itβs Your Night, surpassed industry expectations. The album was the debut for the Michael McDonald collaboration βYah Mo Be There,β (Ingramβs 2nd Grammy) which was honored with the Grammy for Best R&B Performance for a Group or Duo, and βThereβs No Easy Wayβ was considered one of the yearβs stand-out ballads. Itβs Your Night sold nearly one million copies; secured an unprecedented achievement by appearing simultaneously on both The Top 20 Pop and The Top 5 R&B Charts. Ultimately, βYah Mo Be Thereβ became the most-played song of the year.
Ingramβs talents as a songwriter and performer were tapped by some of the most celebrated artists of the era, most prominent was his βP.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)β for Michael Jacksonβs Thriller (1982), which sold more than 50 million units,. He performed βBaby Come To Me,β with Patti Austin (1984) on her debut album, which went on to become a No. 1 Pop record. Other chart-topping, Top 10 collaborations include βThe Secret Garden,β the No.1 hit with Barry White, Al B. Sure and El Debarge on Quincy Jonesβ multi-platinum Back on the Block album, (1990). James, as a song writer is timeless he received Grammy recognition for his participation on the song entitled βGood Lifeβ, in the βBest Rap Songβ category, performed by Kanye West (featuring T-Pain) in 2007.
Hollywood soon called for Ingramβs wide-ranging songwriting and vocal abilities and several hit singles for blockbuster motion and animated pictures followed. βHow Do You Keep The Music Playingβ β a songwriting collaboration between Michel Legrand and Marilyn and Alan Bergman, performed by Ingram and Patti Austin β was featured in Best Friends (1982) and received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Pop Duo/Group as well as an Academy Award nomination in the Original Song category.
Other important contributions to feature films include βDonβt Make Me No Never Mind,β co-written with Quincy Jones and Roy Gaines for Steven Spielbergβs The Color Purple (1985), and Ingramβs duet with Anita Baker, βWhen You Love Someone,β by Bryan Adams, for Forget Paris (1995). βSomewhere Out There,β performed by Ingram and Linda Ronstadt for Steven Spielbergβs animated American Tail (1986) also received a Grammy for Song of the Year. Then 1993 and 1994 brought Ingram back-to-back Academy Award nominations. His duets with Dolly Parton, βThe Day I Fall in Love,β featured in Beethoven 2 (1993), and Anita Baker, βLook What Love Has Done,β the theme song from Junior (1994), were songwriting collaborations with Carole Bayer Sager and recognized in Oscarβs Original Song category.
The '90s were a fruitful decade for Ingram, who began it by co-producing βI Donβt Have the Heartβ with Thom Bell β the first and only time Bell has co-produced on any project β and taking it to No. 1 in 1990. In 1999, Ingram released Forever More: The Best of James Ingram, which included some of his biggest hits as well as new material
Worldwide acclaim has led to concert tours in the U.S. and abroad, where he continues to play before sold-out stadiums in The Philippines, Japan, Singapore, Dubai, Brunei, Indonesia and Hong Kong. Fans at home have been able to see Ingram perform live everywhere from Compton to The White House.
The blessings of success also have allowed Ingram to pursue two of his personal passions: humanitarian work and composition for live theater. In 1987, Ingram was hand-picked by Quincy Jones to perform in βWe are the World,β the universal gift and legendary singing and fund-raising effort from the recording industry, which raised more than $100 million in aid for those suffering from famine in Africa. Ingram also continues to work with long-time collaborator, choreographer/ producer Debbie Allen on a number of musical projects. Most recently, they partnered on Stand (In the Light) and several musical theater works including "Brothers of the Night, βThe Legendβ and βAlex in Wonderland."
Faith and family are Ingramβs main sources of inspiration, driving his industry achievements; legendary collaborations with revered mentors and peers; humanitarian work; and celebrated performances at some of the most-high-profile events of our time, including The Oscars, The Grammy Awards and The Super Bowl. The son of a Deacon, Ingram is one of six children and a self-taught musician, adept at piano, guitar, bass, drums and synthesizer. He made his home in Los Angeles with Debbie, his wife of 36 years, and their six children.
One Hundred Ways
James Ingram Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Send her roses just because
If it's violins she loves let them play
Dedicate her fav'right song and hold
Her closer all night long
Lover her today
Find one hundred ways
An old lover in her memory
If you need her so much more
Why don't you say
Maybe she has it in her mind
That she's just wasting her time
Ask her to stay
Find one hundred ways
Bein' cool won't help you keep a love warm
You'll just blow your chance
Take the time to open up your heart
That's the secret of romance
Sacrifice if you care
Buy her some moonlight to wear
If there's one more star she wants
Go all the way
In your arms tonight
She'll reflect that she owes you
The sweetest of debts if she wants to pay
Find one hundred ways
In your arms tonight
She'll reflect that she owes you
The sweetest of debts if she wants to pay
Find one hundred ways
Ya gotta believe it whoa
Love her today
Find one hundred ways
The lyrics of James Ingram's song, One Hundred Ways, are about finding ways to show love and affection to someone special. The singer advises the listener to compliment their lover's actions, give her gifts just because it brings her joy, and allow the things she loves to be present in her life. He suggests dedicating her favorite song and holding her all night long, and, above all, loving her today, with a goal to find one hundred ways to express love and care.
The singer goes on to caution that an old flame may still occupy a place in her memory, and if you need her so much more, you should say it. He tells the listener not to be cool because that won't keep love warm, and the secret of romance is to open up your heart. He advises sacrificing if you care, like buying her moonlight to wear, going all the way, and reminds us that in your arms tonight, she'll realize she owes you the sweetest of debts, and encourages the listener to find one hundred ways.
Overall, this song aims to encourage listeners to express their love to their special ones in different and multiple ways. It teaches us that love thrives on gestures, and expressing love in different ways is important for the growth of a relationship. The song tries to inspire people to keep their love light burning by continuously adding to it with variations.
Line by Line Meaning
Compliment what she does
Give her praise and recognize her accomplishments.
Send her roses just because
Express your love with a thoughtful gesture, a special reminder that you're thinking of her.
If it's violins she loves let them play
Let her indulge in her passions, even if it's not yours.
Dedicate her fav'right song and hold
Give her a special moment by playing her favorite song and holding her close.
Her closer all night long
Embrace her tightly throughout the evening, showing that you care deeply about her.
Lover her today
Show her affection and passion in the present moment.
Find one hundred ways
Explore different methods of showing her love and affection, dedicating all varieties of efforts to win her heart.
Don't forget there could be
Be mindful of her past, as there may be people and memories that impact her thoughts and feelings toward relationships.
An old lover in her memory
Remembering a prior partner or experience may make her hesitant or uncertain.
If you need her so much more
Express how much you need and want her in your life.
Why don't you say
Communicate your feelings and desires honestly and openly.
Maybe she has it in her mind
Consider that she may be hesitant or unsure of continuing a relationship, questioning if she is wasting time.
That she's just wasting her time
She may be uncertain about the relationship, feeling that it is futile to proceed.
Ask her to stay
Express your desire for her to remain in your life and observe the potential evolution of your relationship together.
Bein' cool won't help you keep a love warm
Being emotionally distant or complacent will not sustain a relationship. One must invest deeply in the connection to keep it alive.
You'll just blow your chance
If you continuously remain distant and fail to show affection, you'll ruin your opportunity to maintain a firmly established relationship.
Take the time to open up your heart
Commit to making genuine emotional efforts to ensure the well-being of your partner and relationship.
That's the secret of romance
The key to a romantic relationship involves the depth of emotional connection between individuals. By creating an emotional connection, a long-lasting relationship can form.
Sacrifice if you care
Show her that you care for her by making sacrifices, be it your time, your money, or anything else she requires.
Buy her some moonlight to wear
Give her something special that makes her feel elegant, sophisticated and valuable to you, like jewelry or a nice dress.
If there's one more star she wants
If there are additional things she yearns for that make her happy, like the realization of a specific goal or a fulfilled dream, help her make them a reality.
Go all the way
Commit fully to supporting her ambitions and desires by any means possible.
In your arms tonight
Hold her close to you when you are spending time together, creating a close physical and emotional bond.
She'll reflect that she owes you
She'll realize how much you've done for her and express her gratitude back to you.
The sweetest of debts if she wants to pay
She'll feel indebted to you and be eager to pay back the kindness you've shown her.
Ya gotta believe it whoa
You must truly have trust and faith in the relationship and her feelings for you.
Love her today
Remind her how much you love her every single day, by repeatedly showing your affection and commitment, to strengthen your relationship.
Find one hundred ways
Continue to search for various methods to express and demonstrate your love and appreciation towards her so you never miss a beat.
Lyrics Β© Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ANTHONY TRYRONE COLEMAN, BENJAMIN WRIGHT, KATHLEEN WAKEFIELD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Dan De Jianne
on No Need To Say Goodbye
Wrong song. These are not the lyrics to No need to say goodbye.