James Ingram

“The first time you hear a song you might not remember the words, but you can go to the record store and hum the melody. The story almost becomes secondary.”

“I don't feel like a celebrity until the public reminds me.”

“When I sit down to create music, I can't be disturbed with the past. I look ahead because that's what is important now.”

“Even though I do a lot of songwriting, there's always other great material out there that you have to be aware of.”

“I'm telling you, the people that I was playing behind in Akron, Ohio. I knew I couldn't sing. That's how great they were. I wasn't trying. I was just doing background.”

“I didn't know the piano only has 12 notes. It's just different octaves of the same 12 notes. When I figured that out, I was like, 'Oh-whee!'”

“Quincy said, 'What're you doing?' I said, 'I'm trying to smooth that gruff out of my voice. I'm trying to smooth it out.' He said, 'That gruff in your voice, that's why you're in here. That's your sound.' When he said that, a light went on in my head.”

“I always say that if the song is strong enough, it'll stand on its own.”

“When people ask me, I say I studied at the University of Ray Charles and went to learn with the master, Quincy.”

“Remember The DreamYou have a choiceYour heart will knowYou gotta look back sometimeTo know where to goYou have a voiceLong as you liveIt's never too smallWhatever you got to giveWhen your life is low (hold on)And you want to let go (be strong - hold on)Remember the dream we hadWhen there was nothing elseRemember the light that shinesAnd find it in yourselfRemember the dream is yoursSo let it guide your wayAnd keep it alive with you each dayDon't ever sayYou just don't carethe chances you takeWill take you as far as you darDon't be afraidHold your head highThere's strength in your soulYou never know till you tryWhen your life is low (hold on)And you want to let go (be strong -- hold on)You're not alone .. somebody cares(Hold on ...be strong)When you're walkin' the roadWith those who been there(You're not alone)Remember the dream is yoursSo let it guide your wayAnd keep it alive with you each day.”

“To keep my mother from pinching me when I was talking, I joined up in the choir. But I never did a solo.”

“There are a billion ways to say I love you. And I'm always looking for a billion and one ways to express that very personal emotion. That's part of my journey in this world.”