R&B singer-songwriter and record producer James Ingram has passed away following a battle with brain cancer. He was 66 years old.

Ingram’s death was confirmed by longtime friend Debbie Allen. Allen took to Twitter to share “I have lost my dearest friend and creative partner James Ingram to the Celestial Choir. He will always be cherished, loved and remembered for his genius, his love of family and his humanity. I am blessed to have been so close. We will forever speak his name.”

Ingram was one of the biggest names in R&B music in the ’80s and 90s. His musical and cinematic pursuits would earn him considerable accolades over the course of his career.

Ingram was nominated for 14 Grammy awards from 1982 through 1996. He took home a Grammy for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance on ‘One Hundred Ways’ in 1982. As well as scoring a Grammy in 1985 for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with his Michael McDonald collaboration “Yah Mo B There.”

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Watch: James Ingram and Michael McDonald – Yah Mo Be There

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The ’90s would see Ingram venture into film. Composing music for a slew of massive films such as Sarafina!, Beethoven’s 2nd, An American Tail, Beverly Hills Cop II, and more. Ingram scored Oscar nominations for Best Original Song in 1994-95 for his work on Beethoven’s 2nd and Junior.

Frequent collaborator Quincy Jones has shared a heartfelt statement with the New York Times’ Jon Caramanica addressing Ingram’s passing. Ingram was the co-author (alongside Jones) of one of Michael Jackson’s biggest hits, ‘P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing).’ Jones shared:

There are no words to convey how much my heart aches with the news of the passing of my baby brother James Ingram. With that soulful, whisky sounding voice, James Ingram was simply magical. From the minute I first heard his voice on the demo tape for “Just Once,” to “One Hundred Ways,” his classic duet with Patti Austin “How Do You Keep the Music Playing,“ “Secret Garden,” “We Are the World,” and all our recordings, every beautiful note that James sang pierced your essence and comfortably made itself at home. But it was really no surprise because James was a beautiful human being, with a heart the size of the moon. James Ingram was, and always will be, beyond compare. Rest In Peace baby brother. You will be in my heart forever.

Watch: Patti Austin & James Ingram – Baby Come To Me

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUsnVOqrqqE