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 Charles’ 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 Ingram’s demo of “Just Once” — which had been recorded for the sum of $50 — Jones immediately recognized the man, the voice and the music as the musical triumvirate that would both captivate listeners and command the music industry’s attention.
Jones quickly chose Ingram to perform both “Just Once” and “One Hundred Ways” on Jones’ 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 “One Hundred Ways,” for which he won his first Grammy. Ingram also made Grammy history when — in his first live performance ever as a singer — he performed “Just Once” as the telecast’s 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, Ingram’s much-anticipated 1983 solo album, It’s Your Night, surpassed industry expectations. The album was the debut for the Michael McDonald collaboration “Yah Mo Be There,” (Ingram’s 2nd Grammy) which was honored with the Grammy for Best R&B Performance for a Group or Duo, and “There’s No Easy Way” was considered one of the year’s stand-out ballads. It’s 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, “Yah Mo Be There” became the most-played song of the year.
Ingram’s talents as a songwriter and performer were tapped by some of the most celebrated artists of the era, most prominent was his “P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)” for Michael Jackson’s Thriller (1982), which sold more than 50 million units,. He performed “Baby Come To Me,” 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 “The Secret Garden,” the No.1 hit with Barry White, Al B. Sure and El Debarge on Quincy Jones’ 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 “Good Life”, in the “Best Rap Song” category, performed by Kanye West (featuring T-Pain) in 2007.
Hollywood soon called for Ingram’s wide-ranging songwriting and vocal abilities and several hit singles for blockbuster motion and animated pictures followed. “How Do You Keep The Music Playing” — a songwriting collaboration between Michel Legrand and Marilyn and Alan Bergman, performed by Ingram and Patti Austin — 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 “Don’t Make Me No Never Mind,” co-written with Quincy Jones and Roy Gaines for Steven Spielberg’s The Color Purple (1985), and Ingram’s duet with Anita Baker, “When You Love Someone,” by Bryan Adams, for Forget Paris (1995). “Somewhere Out There,” performed by Ingram and Linda Ronstadt for Steven Spielberg’s 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, “The Day I Fall in Love,” featured in Beethoven 2 (1993), and Anita Baker, “Look What Love Has Done,” the theme song from Junior (1994), were songwriting collaborations with Carole Bayer Sager and recognized in Oscar’s Original Song category.
The '90s were a fruitful decade for Ingram, who began it by co-producing “I Don’t Have the Heart” with Thom Bell — the first and only time Bell has co-produced on any project — 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 “We are the World,” 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, “The Legend” and “Alex in Wonderland."
Faith and family are Ingram’s 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.
The Day I Fall In Love
James Ingram Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Started out the same old way
Then I looked into your eyes and knew
Today would be a first for me
The day I fall in love
On the day I fall in love
Sky will be a perfect blue
To someone who is just like you
The day I fall in love
People all say love is wonderful
That the bells will ring
The birds will sing
The skies will open
I wonder where's that great big symphony
Roll over Beethoven
Won't you play with me
And I'll never promise to be true to anyone
Unless it's you
Unless it's you
The day I fall in love
People all say love is wonderful
That the bells will ring
The birds will sing
The skies will open
I wonder where's that great big symphony
Roll over Beethoven
Come on play with me
Just an ordinary day
Started out the same old way
Then I looked into your eyes and knew
Today will be a first for me
A first for me
The day I fall in love
I know you'll be there
Oh....I know...
The day I fall in love
James Ingram's "The Day I Fall In Love" is a song about finding someone who makes life worth living. The lyrics describe an ordinary day that turns into something extraordinary when the singer meets someone special who changes their perspective entirely. They see the possibility of a future with this person, where the sky is always blue, and their heart belongs to someone who is just like them. The idea of a "great big symphony" conveys the excitement and joy of falling in love, while the reference to Beethoven suggests that love is its own kind of music that is waiting to be played.
The song sends a message that love can transform our lives and make us better, more fulfilled people. It reminds us that love is not just about romance, but also about finding someone who understands us and makes everything feel new and wonderful. The lyrics express a desire to remain loyal to this special person, to give our heart forever to them. The song provides a sense of hope and optimism, making the listener believe that they too can one day experience this kind of love.
Line by Line Meaning
Just an ordinary day
Nothing out of the ordinary happened on this day.
Started out the same old way
The day began as any other day normally would.
Then I looked into your eyes and knew
The moment I gazed into your eyes, I had a realization.
Today would be a first for me
This day would be the start of something completely new for me.
The day I fall in love
It is the day I will start to love someone.
On the day I fall in love
The specific date when I started to feel love towards someone.
Sky will be a perfect blue
The sky will be utterly flawless on that day.
And I'll give my heart forever more
On that day, I will commit to loving someone unconditionally and indefinitely.
To someone who is just like you
This person will have similar qualities to yours that I find desirable.
People all say love is wonderful
People have told me that love is delightful.
That the bells will ring
The sound of marriage bells may indicate that two people are in love.
The birds will sing
Birds singing may be another sign of love's beauty.
The skies will open
The sky clearing up might show that both hearts are now open and exposed to each other, with no secrets.
I wonder where's that great big symphony
I am curious as to the source of the grand, euphoric sound that accompanies love.
Roll over Beethoven
A reference to the classic song by Chuck Berry, urging the famous conductor Beethoven to make way for the forthcoming love symphony.
Won't you play with me
Asking Beethoven to share in this music that is sure to come with the blossoming of love.
And I'll never promise to be true to anyone
I wouldn't make any strong commitment to someone unless it is you.
Unless it's you
Only for this person, I may promise to stay true.
I know you'll be there
I am confident you (the person I love) will be around to share in my happiness.
Oh....I know...
I have faith in love and that it will turn out to be everything that people say it is.
Lyrics © FRANAM PUB ADMINISTRATION, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CAROLE BAYER SAGER, JAMES E. INGRAM, CLIFTON MAGNESS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@victoriaalexis_
Verse 1: James Ingram]
Just an ordinary day
Started out the same old way
Then I looked into your eyes and knew
Today would be a first for me
The day I fall in love
[Verse 2: Dolly Parton]
On the day I fall in love
Sky will be a perfect blue
And I'll give my heart forever more
To someone who is just like you
The day I fall in love
[Chorus: James Ingram and Dolly Parton]
People all say love is wonderful
That the bells will ring
The birds will sing
The skies will open
I wonder where's that great big symphony
Roll over Beethoven
Won't you play with me
[Bridge: James Ingram and Dolly Parton]
And I'll never promise to be true to anyone
Unless it's you
Unless it's you
The day I fall in love
People all say love is wonderful
That the bells will ring
The birds will sing
The skies will open
I wonder where's that great big symphony
Roll over Beethoven
Come and play with me
[Verse 1: James Ingram and Dolly Parton]
Just an ordinary day
Started out the same old way
Then I looked into your eyes and knew
Today would be a first for me
A first for me
The day I fall in love
[Outro: James Ingram and Dolly Parton]
I know you'll be there
Ooh, I know
The day I fall in love
@agustinusrenaldi333
Lyrics
... Just an ordinary day
Started out the same old way
Then I looked into your eyes and knew
Today would be a first for me
The day I fall in love
… On the day I fall in love
The sky will be a perfect blue
And I'll give my heart forever more
To someone who is just like you
The day I fall in love
… People all say, love is wonderful
That the bells will ring and birds will sing and skies will open
I wonder where's that great big symphony
Roll over Beethoven, won't you play with me?
… And I'll never promise to be true
To anyone, unless it's you
Unless its you
The day I fall in love
… People all say, love is wonderful
That the bells will ring and birds will sing and skies will open
I wonder where's that great big symphony
I'll be your Beethoven, roll over, Beethoven
Come and play with me
… Just an ordinary day
Started out the same old way
Then I looked into your eyes and knew
Today would be a first for me, a first for me
The day I fall in love
I know you'll be there
… The day I fall in love
Sc : Google
Have a nice day everyone ! :)
@aliciamcdonald7105
James Ingram, one of the best male voices EVER in my humble opinion.
@douglasdavis8296
No doubt!
Thank the Lord that Quincy Jones convinced him to let us all hear how gorgeous his voice was.
@mitcharett2586
What a beautiful duet. R.I.P., James Ingram, one of the greatest singers ever!
@rainman6753
He was my favourite in my teens, his Yah Mo Be There was just ground breaking for me
@mikeriggs471
When did the legendary James Ingram passed away?
@TyMarshall007
@@mikeriggs471 January 29th 2019
@mikeriggs471
@@TyMarshall007 i enjoy hearing his voice with Dolly Parton in beethoven 2nd and I really appreciate this very special singer and he'll be missed by everybody #legend
@TyMarshall007
@@mikeriggs471 I agree with you
@RebelMoonWalker
That smile from James was so precious
@yankeeladee02
Rest in Paradise, Mr. James Ingram🕊
What a gorgeous duet this was way back when, yet it’s timeless.
Dolly, always so beautiful in every way. Thank you for sharing this oldie, but oh so goodie. 🤍🎶