Conversations with Ira Ingber

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ira Ingber. Them and their team share their story with us below:

Minneapolis-born, Los Angeles raised Ira Ingber recorded his first original song at the age of 15.

Playing a Gibson J-200 belonging to Don Everly at the fabled Gold Star recording studio in Hollywood, the path to his future was clearly marked. Within a year, he was asked to become a member of a popular L.A. band called The New Generation.

A recording contract with Capitol Records and prestigious live performances followed. Although the band recorded only one unreleased album, the many hours spent in Studio B at the Capitol tower whetted his appetite for learning the ins and outs of the recording process.

Studying music at Los Angeles City College, UCLA, and privately with the legendary conductor-educator Joseph Valenti added form and structure to the guitar-playing skills he had acquired at an early age. His older brother, Elliot, had given him his first guitar, instruction, and the invaluable exposure to what was then the obscure and relatively seditious form of music known as the blues. Elliot was a member of the first Mothers Of Invention band, later founded the Fraternity Of Man, which gave the world “Don’t Bogart That Joint,” and then joined Captain Beefheart’s Magic Band becoming known as Winged Eel Fingerling. It was with this connection that Ira eventually wrote and recorded with Captain Beefheart.

An early association with Lowell George led to Ira’s second record deal. Lowell produced several tracks for the band, with the executive producers being Ahmet Ertegun and Robert Stigwood. Ira returned the favor many years later by producing two tracks for the Lowell George tribute album entitled Rock and Roll Doctor.

Tours and recordings with the so-called Southern California singer/songwriter “Mafia” included associations with J.D. Souther, Karla Bonoff, Jennifer Warnes, Andrew Gold, and Bonnie Raitt.

The stage was now set for Ira’s third record contract, this time with Clive Davis’ Arista label, signing his band The Pets with the resulting album Wet Behind The Ears.

Ira was asked to form a band for Bob Dylan that led to the recording of two Dylan albums, Empire Burlesque and Knocked Out Loaded. One song, the 12+ minute epic “Brownsville Girl,” went on to appear on Dylan’s Greatest Hits Vol. 3. More recent work with Bob includes performing on Shadow Kingdom.

A long working relationship with Van Dyke Parks resulted in Ira’s involvement as both musician and producer of scores with a wide range of film, television, record and commercial projects including the Howard Stern movie Private Parts, the Robert Altman-directed The Company, and the Brian Wilson/Van Dyke Parks collaborative album Orange Crate Art, among many others. Most recently, he performed on, mixed, and mastered Van Dyke’s acclaimed album, “Songs Cycled.” Following “Songs Cycled” came another collaboration with Van Dyke on a single, “Charm School.” Co-written, co-produced, mixed, and mastered by Ira, it went on to receive international acclaim.

The motion picture Midnight Run, with a score written by Danny Elfman, featured Ira’s very prominent slide guitar over an orchestral backdrop. Prior to Midnight Run he performed on another Elfman score for the film Hot To Trot.

Ira has composed and performed numerous original scores and songs for film, television and commercials.

He is a founding member of jackiO, which performs in the top clubs throughout the Los Angeles area. His guitar work was prominent in “Eureka,” “Battlestar Galactica,” “The Walking Dead,” “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,” and “The Life and Times of Tim.” Ira is a featured guitarist on the Starz Network show, “BLACK SAILS.”
He performs as a singer on the Season 4 main title theme for the hit show, “Outlander.” In addition, he is plays guitars on the score for Season 4.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The trick is to discover where the road is, much less experiencing it as being either rough or smooth. The struggles are almost always self-induced. Again, the trick here is to recognize them for what they are.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Producer, guitarist, singer, songwriter, engineer, dream facilitator. In no particular order. I’m most proud of creating what I’ve come to call “unapologetic music.” It’s simply the very best I can do.

Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
Authenticity is your greatest asset. Far more than inherent talent(s).

Contact Info:

• Website: Iraingber.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/muscletn/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ira.ingber/

Image Credits
Will Seyfert Jeff Sherman