I is for James Ingram

I thought "I" might be a challenge, but I'm up to it.

James Ingram came to mind as someone whose R&B stylings and deep, lush voice I greatly admired in the '80s. He worked with legendary producer Quincy Jones early on, then became a real duet partnet with lots of artists -- Patti Austin, Michael McDonald, Linda Ronstadt, Gloria Estefan.

As good as all of those sounded, his solo work was a cut above. I saw him once in Portland at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall on a bill with Patti LaBelle. Great big voices, the two of them, especially when they came together on her hit "On My Own."