b. Luther Thomas Ingram, 30th November 1937, Jackson, Tennessee, U.S.A.
d. 19th March 2007, St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.A.
Luther Thomas Ingram's professional career began in New York with work for producers Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller.
Several singles followed, including 'I Spy For The FBI', which was a version of Jamo Thomas's 1966 hit version.
Luther then signed to HIB Records for 'Exus Trek / If It's All The Same To You' before moving on to Koko Records, an independent label later marketed by Stax and owned by his manager and producer, Johnny Baylor.
Here, alongside Mack Rice, he participated on songwriting chores including 'Respect Yourself' for the Staple Singers.
Luther was also releasing his own material with a great deal of success on the R & B charts.
He was, for a time, a member of the group, The Gardenias.
In 1972, he released a recording of the classic Homer Banks, Raymond Jackson and Carl Hampton song, '(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want To Be Right'.
Produced by Johnny Baylor, the song reached number one on Billboard magazine's R & B chart, and peaked at number three on that publication's Hot 100 chart in 1972.
It was was later recorded by Rod Stewart, Millie Jackson and Barbara Mandrell.
The song went on to sell over a million copies and reached number 3 in the U.S. pop charts.
Luther's next release, 'I'll Be Your Shelter (In Time Of Storm)', then followed.
His label, Koko struggled with financial problems.
It took 8 years before Luther returned to the R & B chart in 1986 with 'Baby Don't Go Too Far'.
In 2001, Luther Ingram began battling kidney disease.
Various soul artists performed benefit concerts to help offset his medical expenses.
Luther Thomas Ingram died in 2007, after years of kidney troubles and ill health, in St. Louis, Missouri, aged 69.
Albums:
I've Been Here All The Time (Koko 1972)
(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want To Be Right (Koko 1972)
Let's Steal Away To The Hideaway (Koko 1976)
Do You Love Somebody (Koko 1977)
It's Your Night (QWest 1983)
Luther Ingram (Profile 1986)
