Phillip Ingram (born 1958)[1] is an American musician. He is perhaps best known as one of the founding members of the Motown Group Switch and is the younger brother of James Ingram.[2][3]

Phillip Ingram
Background information
Born1958 (age 65–66)
Akron, Ohio, United States
OriginReseda, California, United States
GenresR&B, soul, pop jazz
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter, record producer
Instrument(s)Vocals, piano, keyboards, guitar, bass guitar, drums
Years active1975–present
LabelsQwest, Motown

Biography

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Ingram was raised in Akron, Ohio.[4] He came from a musical family with six brothers and sisters who all sang and played instruments but only Phillip and his older brother, James, pursued a musical career.[4]

In December 1976, the band Switch was formed with Phillip Ingram, Greg Williams, Jody Sims, Bobby DeBarge, Tommy DeBarge and Eddie Fluellen.[5][6]

Switch was signed to the Gordy subsidiary of Motown Records in May 1977 and went on to record five albums for the label, with Ingram sharing lead vocal duties with Bobby DeBarge.[6][7]

Starting in 1984, Ingram went behind the scenes writing for various artists and working with various artists, films and commercials.

He still sings and records for television and radio commercials, works on films, radio station IDs, and recordings. In addition, he is working on production of new and upcoming artists along with Rex Salas. He has toured with Sheena Easton and a new incarnation of Switch.

College voice instructor

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Ingram was a faculty member at the California College of Music (CCM) in Pasadena, California, and taught vocal lessons twice a week with their Vocal Arts Program.[1]

Personal life

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Ingram has been married twice and lives with his second wife, Rebecca, in Reseda, California. Both are Jehovah's Witnesses, Ingram being an elder in his local congregation, as well as a pioneer, a person who devotes over 50 hours a month to the Jehovah's Witnesses evangelism.[4]

Discography

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Albums

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  • 1983: Fresh Idea(with Attala Zane Giles, credited as Deco) (Qwest Records)

Soundtracks

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References

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  1. ^ a b "California College of Music". Ccmcollege.com. Archived from the original on March 11, 2015. Retrieved April 1, 2014.
  2. ^ "Switch's Phillip Ingram tells story of his heart attack and recovery". Soul Tracks. August 12, 2020. Retrieved March 26, 2022.
  3. ^ "Switch & Phillip Ingram". The Akron Beacon Journal. February 11, 1998. p. 54.
  4. ^ a b c "Phillip Ingram - About the artist". ReverbNation.
  5. ^ Kellman, Andy. "Switch - Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved March 26, 2022.
  6. ^ a b Gonzales, Michael A. (October 2007). "Broken Dreams". Vibe. pp. 108–115.
  7. ^ "Biography of Switch". The Omaha Star. August 3, 1978. p. 8.

Further reading

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  • Bogdanov, Vladimir (2003). All Music Guide to Soul: The Definitive Guide to R&B and Soul (illustrated ed.). Backbeat Books. ISBN 9780879307448.
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