HR0327 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0327 LRB095 11927 GRL 35227 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Luther Thomas Ingram, recording artist from O'Fallon, who passed away on March 19, 2007; and

WHEREAS, Luther Ingram was born November 30, 1937, in Jackson, Tennessee, to Richard Lee and Callie Ingram; he was united in holy matrimony to Jacqueline Langford in 1961; and

WHEREAS, He attended public school in Jackson, Tennessee, and in Alton; his family recognized his love for music at about two or three years of age when his mother, dad, and older brothers, Archie and Richard, couldn't sit him down during church service when he heard the music and the singing; he joined the group Midwest Crusaders as a young man after his family moved to Alton in 1947; and

WHEREAS, Luther's love for singing became an integral part of his life; he went to work for McDonnell Douglas Aircraft Company, but his love for his music would not be squelched by his work and he became a part of The Gardenias, along with his two brothers and two other family friends; he quickly became the feature lead singer and was known in the area as one of the most talented and prolific young singers in the region; he roomed with Jimi Hendrix when each was recording in New York, he performed with Ike Turner at clubs in East St. Louis, and was the opening act for Isaac Hayes; and

WHEREAS, Luther Ingram recorded with Decca Records in New York and in 1965 wrote and sang "I Spy for the FBI" with his brothers in their group, Luther Ingram and the G-Men; he is best remembered for his signature classic song, "If Loving You Is Wrong, I Don't Want To Be Right"; the song was recorded in 1973 and reached number 1 on the record charts; his other popular songs include "Ain't That Loving You (For More Reasons Than One)", "I'll Be Your Shelter", and "You Never Miss Your Water"; Luther Ingram was on the R&B charts thirteen times in his career; he also co-wrote the Staple Singers hit song "Respect Yourself"; and

WHEREAS, Luther Ingram is remembered as a soft-spoken and quiet person and as an intense singer who sought perfection in every song he sang; and

WHEREAS, Luther was preceded in death by his father, Richard Lee Ingram; his sister, Georgia Lee; his brother, Allie B.; and his grandparents; and

WHEREAS, The passing of Luther Ingram will be deeply felt by all those who knew and loved him, especially his devoted wife of 46 years, Jacqueline; his sons, Kenneth (Rochelle) Ingram, and Eric Luther (Linda) Ingram; his mother, Mrs. Callie Ingram; his mother-in-law, Mrs. Rose Langford; his brothers, Archie (Dorothy) Ingram, Richard (Beatrice) Ingram, Jessie (Sherlene) Ingram, Frank (Karen), and Thomas (Barbara); his sister, Daisy (Pennington) McGee; his grandchildren, Jemar Glen, Kenneth Edward, and James Kobe; his great-aunts, Fanny Henry, Norma Walls, Mildred Hill, Susan Weaver and Mary (Sherman, Sr.) Hamilton; his sisters-in-law, Virgie Mae Hudson, Geraldine Scott and Mary (Jesse) Brown; his godchildren, Christopher (Venis) Manuel, Debra Reed, Stephanie Lewis, Briana Scott, Stevie (Jessica) Scott, Maurice Scott Jr., and Joseph Bates; his longtime brethren, Bernie (U-Vee) Hayes, Percy Lockett, Donald Dace, John Sanders, Dr. James Logan, and Randy Stewart; his nieces and nephews; his dozens of cousins; a host of friends and associates along with his musical family Stax/KoKo of Memphis Tennessee; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with all who knew and loved him, the passing of musical artist Luther Ingram; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Luther Ingram as a symbol of our respect and sympathy.