Ingram was born in Akron, Ohio

Ingram was born in Akron, Ohio, where he lived with his parents until he moved in with his grandmother, when he was 10.

 He later attended Akron's East High School and the University of Akron.

 Subsequently he moved to Los Angeles and played with the band Revelation Funk, which made an appearance in the Rudy Ray Moore film Dolemite.

 He also later played keyboards for Ray Charles before becoming famous.

 Meanwhile, his younger brother, Phillip Ingram, became prominent as a member of the Motown group Switch.