November 30: Luther Ingram "If loving you is wrong, I don't want to be right" was born on this date in 1937...

... he died March 19, 2007.

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Born Luther Thomas Ingram in Jackson, Tennessee, his early interest in music led to him making his first record in 1965 at the age of 28. His first three recordings failed to chart but that changed when he signed for KoKo Records in the late 1960s. Many of his songs appeared in the pop and R&B charts, even though Koko was only a small label.

Ingram is best known for the hit, "(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want to Be Right. The song reached number one on Billboard's R&B chart, and peaked at number three on that publication's Hot 100 chart in 1972. The track stayed in the Hot 100 for 18 weeks, ultimately selling a reported four million copies/ The song was later successfully covered by Millie Jackson, Barbara Mandrell and Rod Stewart.

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Other popular Ingram songs include "Ain't That Loving You (For More Reasons Than One)," "Let's Steal Away To The Hideaway" and "I'll Be Your Shelter." He also co-authored "Respect Yourself," a million seller for the Staples Singers in 1971. He was opening act for Isaac Hayes for some years and often used Hayes' Movement band and female backing group for his 70s' recordings.

He recorded into the 1980s. Although  he only managed lower R&B chart hits, he remained a popular stage draw.

Ingram died March 19, 2007 at a Belleville, Illinois, hospital from heart failure. He had suffered for years from diabetes, kidney disease and partial blindness.

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