Multiple Grammy-award winning singer James Ingram Ingram, will play the Air Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival on January 28, 2006.He said that playing to the
audience in Jamaica is an “honor” and gives him a
sense of coming “back home.”

Especially, he says, since he hasn’t been back since
playing in Kingston five years ago. Come Sat. Jan.
28, Ingram, says fans and ticket holders at the
festival “can expect to hear most of my hits and
some other new music.”

“I’ll be singing my heart out,” added the multi-
talented musician, with tunes like ‘Just Once,’ ‘Baby
Come To Me,’ and ‘I Don’t Have The Heart.’ They
have to come and see my special treat.” And
the Ohio native, jovially added, “Because I haven’t
seen them in a long time and I miss them. They have
to come. I’m their brethren. Yea Mon. Irie Mon.”

Ingram says he keeps going strong professionally
because of his “love for the music,” a “gift” from
God, which he says he refuses to take lightly. And he
has a special word of advice for young and gifted
Caribbean singers, straight from his father - do not
give up.

“My father told me before I came to LA, ‘have faith in
God and confidence in myself and there was nothing
that I couldn’t do.’ I got my break in 1980 after
moving to LA in 1973. I was disappointed a lot but
never discouraged. They couldn’t stop me from
pursuing what I was going to do,” he revealed.

Ingram is set to release a new inspirational album
early next year. He will share the stage with another
multiple Grammy-winner, Soul diva, Patti LaBelle,
reggae’s Maxi Priest, newcomer KEM and the Reunion
Jazz Quartet. As well as the calypso King of the
World, the Mighty Sparrow; Arrow of ‘Hot, Hot, Hot,’
fame, the Merry Men, Marcia Griffiths and Ken
Lazarus, who will all pay tribute to Jamaican-born
music legend, Byron Lee, for his 50-year musical
career.

They will be preceded on day one and two of the
festival - January 26 and 27th - with performances
by2005 eight time Grammy nominee, John Legend;
reggae’s Shaggy, who picked up a Grammy for the
first time in 1996 and has been nominated for
another this year; master flutist, Nestor Torres, also
a Grammy winner; reggae’s highly hailed family,
Morgan Heritage and the celebrated
singer/songwriter/producer, Chester “Lyfe” Jennings,
Richie Stephens, multiple Grammy winner and gospel
great, Rev. Al Green; legendary musical duo Air
Supply; Rock n’ Roll Hall of Famer Bo Diddley and
newcomer Nicole Henry.

An event pass for the three-day festival costs
US$160 while individual ticket prices range from
US$50 for the Thursday night performance, $55 for
Friday night and $60 for the final tribute night, Sat.
Jan. 28.

Air Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival is a Turn Key
Productions and has been running continuously for
the past ten years. Sponsors include Air Jamaica,
The Jamaica Tourist Board, American Express, Digicel,
NCB Bank of Jamaica, Half-Moon Resort, Coral Cliff
hotel, Holiday Inn, Jampro, BET Jazz, Ocean Spray,
Heineken beer, Wata, Supreme Ventures, AnBell and
PanCaribbean.
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