Music industry icon, multi-Grammy Award winner and Oscar nominee James Ingram didn't take long to decide to perform in Bermuda.

He was at the 2008 Bermuda Music Festival and visited the Island last year so when he was asked by Quincy Jones to perform at this year's Festival it was an easy decision.

"When Quincy picked this it was like, it's a no-brainer. It is a paradise and I've been all over the world. This is one of the most beautiful places in the world."

As someone who sings frequently about love, honour and devotion, it's not surprising to learn he's been married to the same woman for 35 years and they have a working relationship as well – his wife, Debbie, is also his manager. "I met her when she was five and I was seven," he said.

Mr. Ingram was on the Island last week when he performed at the 14th annual Bermuda Music Festival.

The entertainer was one of the many artists who performed under the banner 'Quincy Jones and Friends'.

"I've been with Quincy since 1980 [when I worked with him on his album], 'The Dude', which was the most phenomenal album in the history of the Grammys."

The collaboration continued with 'Thriller', Michael Jackson's best-selling album which was produced by Mr. Jones. Mr. Ingram co-wrote the song 'P.Y.T.' ('Pretty Young Thing') with the late pop star.

"Being with him is like a historical dream," he said of Mr. Jones. "He heard me do a demo for $50 and he transformed my whole life from a musician to a singer.

"Quincy is family, so no matter where we go, whether we're performing or talking on the phone, he's changed my life."

Mr. Ingram worked with the late Ray Charles before he was discovered by Quincy Jones.

"I played the organ on 'I Can See Clearly Now', I was the organ player on 'Anonymous Love', I played drums on 'Game Number Nine', and I co-wrote 'She's a Bad Mama Jama' [with Carl Carlton] for Ray Charles," he said. He then got a job as a demo singer, paid $50 for each song.

"The first demo I did was 'Just Once'," he explained of the inauspicious start to his best-selling hit. "They handed me the thing for me to study and I went in and sang it and they gave me my $50 and they gave me a copy.

"When I left there I was on my way to Leon Hayward's because he was producing Carl Carlton and I said, 'I think this is a great song for Carl'.

"He said, 'I think it is a good song, but I don't think that it is for Carl'. But little did I know, Quincy called [recording company] ATV and asked 'who is this singer?' and they said, 'Oh, he is just a piano player for Ray Charles, just a demo singer'.

"And Quincy said, 'Well, can I get his number?'

"So he called me and he said he wanted me to sing 'Just Once' on his album. I said, 'Sing? You mean you want me to come play'. And he said, 'No, sing'. And I asked him if he was sure, because I just couldn't believe it.

"So when I got into the studio I kept stopping the tape. I thought, I'm in front of Quincy Jones and I have to be professional. He asked why I kept stopping the tape and I said, 'I want to clean up the gruff on my voice' and he said, 'No, that is your sound'.

"It was like a dream. So here is the first album I have ever been on in my life and that album won the most ever in the history of Grammys."

To his surprise, Mr. Ingram won a Grammy for his performance – the first time ever an artist who had not released their own album, had done so.

Next, he had to overcome his fear of live performances.

"I had sang background in my group, I was no singer," he said.

"We'd go on the road with [Quincy] every now and then I'd stand with the background singers, come out and sing one song, and then get back with them.

"But when I went on my first tour I was out there for six months with Patti LaBelle and I would sing the song she did with Michael McDonald, 'On My Own'. That's what helped me to get over my fear of the stage."

Mr. Ingram said his family helps keeps him grounded.

"I am not a singer, that's what I do, it is not who I am – that is how you separate it. I don't play the star role, star is rats spelled backwards.

"I had a spiritual upbringing with my parents and everything and I already knew who I was.

"I am a husband and a father of six children, family is first, the rest of it is business. I appreciate the gift that God gave me, but I don't fall into the limelight."