BOBBY INGRAM, THE GROVE'S TROUBADOUR, 1937-2019

                                                                  With love from Francesca Violich & Glenn Terry
  
      He always left us laughing and sadly, Bobby Ingram left us for good last Monday. The Grove legend's friendship was something we had treasured for decades.

     
     We were fortunate to live across from the Ingram's south Grove cottage (he called it "Shaky Acres").  Bob joked, "If the termites weren't holding hands the damn thing would fall apart!".
    His history here was long having moved here as a teen from Rockaway, New York in the late 40's. After a stint in the Navy he returned to the Grove. Bobby was at the center of its magical music scene for the next fifty years.  
     In the early 60's he was a member of a folk group, "The Balladeers" that included David Crosby. The two of them remained close friends until Bob's passing. He helped so many make their mark, big or small, on the local music scene.
In the 60's he'd be trading licks with Fred Neil, Vince Martin, or Joni Mitchell. Two years ago he was giving guitar lessons to a friend's young son on his front porch.
    When he was recording here, Neil Young would come by to wash his treasured car in the driveway. Bobby knew all the stars passing through.


     Bobby playing at our backyard concert three years ago.  Everyone attending had to perform and that came easy for Bobby.

     When he managed local coffee houses he'd book unknowns like Jimmy Buffet, Buffy St. Marie, and Steve Martin.  He'd recall, "Back then they were happy playing for twenty-five bucks and beer."  

     Bobby knew Key West in the mid-50's when his submarine was stationed there. Years later he recounted, Jimmy Buffet asked him if he should make the southernmost city his home base to launch his musical career. Bob cautioned, "That'd be a bad move; that town is dead, all sailors and no women".  After re-telling that one he'd always add, "That's the best advice he never took!".
     Boy, could he make us laugh. He did that monthly leading our neighborhood's ukulele group. Every song was preceded by a hilarious  story from his past. We'll miss singing with Bob as he strummed his dad's delicate Martin uke. 
 
 We placed the Bobby Ingram Bench next to Charlie's Woods last July, a part of our Grove Legends Project.

     Bobby led the band on Monty's seaside stage for years. Later he loved playing to devoted, packed audiences at the Barnacle Park nearby. At his last one four years ago he was hit with sudden pain but he played on. Later at the hospital, the doctor told him, "Congratulations, your fans got to hear you play through a heart attack". This near-death experience just added to our favorite raconteur's repertoire.

      If you'd like to hear his music check out Bob's 2015 album, "Post Cards From Coconut Grove" on Spotify.  Recording it was a long labor of love, his musical gift to his beloved  home.  

           Bobby attending the party last fall to honor the original King Mango Strutters. 

     Bob Ingram was devoted to his wife, Gay, their two kids (Liam and Bryn) and his huge circle of friends.

Bobby was crazy in love with 
 his wife, Gay, who passed away seven years ago.

 When his health began to decline last year we'd see them streaming by to offer help, soup, and conversation.               

       On our last cross-the-street visit Bob was quite frail, relaxing on his back porch. As daughter Bryn moved about tending to his every need, he marveled about how lucky he was to have lived on his own terms, with a loving family, in a cozy old Grove cottage held together by termites.
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MEMORIAL SERVICE-   Bob's memorial service will be held at Plymouth Congregational Church (a block east of Shaky Acres) on Thursday, November 7th, at 4:30 p.m.
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Note:  The Ingrams had some great holiday parties.  Come visit 2009's in this video made by Coconut Grove filmmaker, Richard Fendelman.  In it, Bobby, daughter Bryn, and friend, Kevin Hurley sing "Knockin' on Heaven's Door", 
https://youtu.be/T9H9nQrh3NM 

Here's a link to Fred Neil's "Little Bit O' Rain" which he sings with his daughter, Bryn,
https://youtu.be/lL_s_vz55BQ .
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The Miami Herald's tribute, 

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/obituaries/article234669032.html
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