HR0294

LRB095 11888 KXB 35029 r






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HOUSE RESOLUTION


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

 
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    WHEREAS, Luther Ingram was born November 30, 1937, in 
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Jackson, Tennessee, to Richard Lee and Callie Ingram; and

 
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    WHEREAS, He attended public school in Jackson, Tennessee, 
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and in Alton; he accepted Christ at an early age and attended 
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the family church, Walnut Grove Baptist located in Jackson; his 
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family recognized his love for music at about two or three 
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years of age when his mother, dad, and older brothers, Archie 
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and Richard, couldn't sit him down during church service when 
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he heard the music and the singing; he grew up with music all 
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around him and was gifted with the same talent as his mother 
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and her brothers who sang in quartets at churches; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Luther's love for singing became an integral part 
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of his life; he went to work for McDonnell Douglas Aircraft 
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Company, but his love for his music would not be squelched by 
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his work and he became a part of The Gardenias, along with his 
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two brothers and two other family friends; he quickly became 
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the feature lead singer and was known in the area as one of the 
 


 






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most talented and prolific young singers in the region; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Luther Ingram is best remembered for his signature 
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classic song, "If Loving You Is Wrong, I Don't Want To Be 
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Right"; the song was recorded in 1973 and reached number 1 on 
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the record charts; Luther Ingram would go on to be on the R&B 
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charts thirteen times in his career; he also co-wrote the 
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Staple Singers hit song "Respect Yourself"; and
 
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    WHEREAS, Luther Ingram was united in holy matrimony to 
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Jacqueline Langford in 1961; Luther was preceded in death by 
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his father, Richard Lee Ingram; his sister, Georgia Lee; his 
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brother, Allie B.; and his grandparents; and

 
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    WHEREAS,
The passing of Luther Ingram will be deeply felt 
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by all those who knew and loved him, including his devoted wife 
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of 46 years, Jacqueline; their sons, Kenneth (Rochelle) Ingram, 
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and Eric Luther (Linda) Ingram; his mother, Mrs. Callie Ingram; 
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Mrs. Rose Langford; his brothers, Archie (Dorothy) Ingram, 
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Richard (Beatrice) Ingram, Jessie (Sherlene) Ingram, Frank 
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(Karen), and Thomas (Barbara); his sister, Daisy (Pennington) 
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McGee; his grandchildren, Jemar Glen, Kenneth Edward, and James 
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Kobe; his great-aunts, Fanny Henry, Norma Walls, Mildred Hill, 
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Susan Weaver and Mary

(Sherman, Sr.) Hamilton; his 
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sisters-in-law, Virgie Mae Hudson, Geraldine Scott and Mary 
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(Jesse) Brown; his godchildren, Christopher (Venis) Manuel, 
 


 






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Debra Reed, Stephanie Lewis, Briana Scott, Stevie (Jessica) 
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Scott, Maurice Scott Jr., and Joseph Bates; his longtime 
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brethren, Bernie (U-Vee) Hayes, Percy Lockett, Donald Dace, 
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John Sanders, Dr. James Logan, and Randy Stewart; his nieces 
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and nephews; his dozens of cousins; a host of friends and 
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associates along with his musical family Stax/KoKo of Memphis 
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Tennessee; therefore, be it

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

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