(secular vocal; songwriter) was born Luther Thomas Ingram near Jackson, Madison County, Tennessee on 30 November 1937, a son of Richard Lee Ingram (28 in 1940) and Callie Ingram (27 in 1940). In 1940 the family lived on Smith Lane, Enumeration District #57-38, Civil District #8, Madison County. Smith Lane (now County Highway 223) runs north-south to the west of McKellar-Sipes Regional Airport. Other nearby roads lead to Bemis and Denmark. This area is southwest of Jackson. He went to New York City in the early 1960s, and recorded for Smash in 1964 and DECCA in 1965. He also recorded at Memphis, Tennessee for Stax in 1970, and Johnny Baylor’s KoKo label in 1972. His big hit was IF LOVING YOU IS WRONG (I DON’T WANT TO BE RIGHT). That song, with a selection of KoKo titles up to 1978, was reissued in 1992 by (British) Charly CD #CHD 303. He was in Illinois in about 1973. He continued to record for KoKo until 1978, possibly recorded at Chicago. He later recorded middle-of-the-road material. He recorded for Decca, Smash, HIB, Ko Ko, Profile, Ichiban. He died at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, Belleville, St. Clair County, Illinois, 19 March 2007. His Burial was at Mount Carmel Cemetery, Gabriel’s Garden, Belleville.
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