(1934-1954)
The Ink Spots were a vocal group in the 1930s and 1940s … Read Full Bio ↴(1934-1954)
The Ink Spots were a vocal group in the 1930s and 1940s that helped define the musical genre that led to rhythm and blues and rock and roll, and the subgenre doo-wop. They gained much acceptance in both the white community and black community largely due to the ballad style introduced to the group by lead singer Bill Kenny. They were inducted into the Rock & Roll hall of fame in 1999.
Their songs usually began with a guitar riff, followed by the tenor Bill Kenny, who sang the whole song through. After Kenny finished singing, the bass would either recite the first half, or the bridge of the song, or would speak the words, almost in a free form, that were not part of the song, commonly using the words "Honey Child", or "Honey Babe", expressing his love for his darling in the song. This was followed by Kenny, who finished up singing the last refrain or the last half of the song. On some songs Deek Watson would sing the lead rather than Bill Kenny. This was mostly on the uptempo "Jive" songs.
The Ink Spots formed in the early 1930s in Indianapolis. The founding members were :-
Orville "Hoppy" Jones (b. 17 February 1902, Chicago, Illinois – d. 18 October 1944, New York City) (bass) (Played cello in the manner of a stand up bass)[1]
Ivory "Deek" Watson (b. 18 July 1909, Mounds, Illinois – d. 4 November 1969, Washington, D.C.) (tenor) (Played guitar and trumpet)
Jerry Daniels (b. 14 December 1915 – d. 7 November 1995, Indianapolis, Indiana) (tenor) (Played guitar and ukulele)
Charlie Fuqua (b. 20 October 1910 – d. 21 December 1971, New Haven, Connecticut)
(baritone) (Played guitar)
*** BILL KENNY ***
The voice that made them famous Bill Kenny (Mr. Ink Spot) was born June 12th 1914 in Philadelphia PA, and died Mar 23rd 1978 in New West Minister, British Columbia. When Bill Kenny joined the group in 1936 they were mostly a "Jive" ensemble, performing swinging uptempo songs. It wasn't until The Ink Spots 1939 recording of "If I Didn't Care" that Bill Kenny's voice began being regularly featured on Ballads, which it was until The Ink Spots disbanded in 1954. Hits that feature Bill Kenny include "I Don't Want To Set The World On Fire", "We Three", "The Gypsy", "Address Unknown", "With My Eyes Wide Open I'm Dreaming", "So Sorry", "Bless You", "My Prayer", "Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall", "It's A Sin To Tell A Lie", It Isn't A Dream Anymore", and dozens of others. Bill Kenny has been listed as an influence by such great artists as Elvis Presley, Sam Cooke, Johnny Mathis, Sonny Till, Clyde McPhatter and many others. Bill Kenny is often noted as the father of Doo Wop for his high tenor singing and his introduction of the popular "Top & Bottom" format used by virtually every Doo Wop group in the 50's and 60's.
Since Bill Kenny broke up The Ink Spots in 1954 there have been well over 500 black vocal Quartets calling themselves The Ink Spots none of which have or had any original members. There are even groups still touring as The Ink Spots today. It is largely accepted that if the group didn't contain Bill Kenny then the group was/ is a fake.
The Ink Spots were a vocal group in the 1930s and 1940s … Read Full Bio ↴(1934-1954)
The Ink Spots were a vocal group in the 1930s and 1940s that helped define the musical genre that led to rhythm and blues and rock and roll, and the subgenre doo-wop. They gained much acceptance in both the white community and black community largely due to the ballad style introduced to the group by lead singer Bill Kenny. They were inducted into the Rock & Roll hall of fame in 1999.
Their songs usually began with a guitar riff, followed by the tenor Bill Kenny, who sang the whole song through. After Kenny finished singing, the bass would either recite the first half, or the bridge of the song, or would speak the words, almost in a free form, that were not part of the song, commonly using the words "Honey Child", or "Honey Babe", expressing his love for his darling in the song. This was followed by Kenny, who finished up singing the last refrain or the last half of the song. On some songs Deek Watson would sing the lead rather than Bill Kenny. This was mostly on the uptempo "Jive" songs.
The Ink Spots formed in the early 1930s in Indianapolis. The founding members were :-
Orville "Hoppy" Jones (b. 17 February 1902, Chicago, Illinois – d. 18 October 1944, New York City) (bass) (Played cello in the manner of a stand up bass)[1]
Ivory "Deek" Watson (b. 18 July 1909, Mounds, Illinois – d. 4 November 1969, Washington, D.C.) (tenor) (Played guitar and trumpet)
Jerry Daniels (b. 14 December 1915 – d. 7 November 1995, Indianapolis, Indiana) (tenor) (Played guitar and ukulele)
Charlie Fuqua (b. 20 October 1910 – d. 21 December 1971, New Haven, Connecticut)
(baritone) (Played guitar)
*** BILL KENNY ***
The voice that made them famous Bill Kenny (Mr. Ink Spot) was born June 12th 1914 in Philadelphia PA, and died Mar 23rd 1978 in New West Minister, British Columbia. When Bill Kenny joined the group in 1936 they were mostly a "Jive" ensemble, performing swinging uptempo songs. It wasn't until The Ink Spots 1939 recording of "If I Didn't Care" that Bill Kenny's voice began being regularly featured on Ballads, which it was until The Ink Spots disbanded in 1954. Hits that feature Bill Kenny include "I Don't Want To Set The World On Fire", "We Three", "The Gypsy", "Address Unknown", "With My Eyes Wide Open I'm Dreaming", "So Sorry", "Bless You", "My Prayer", "Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall", "It's A Sin To Tell A Lie", It Isn't A Dream Anymore", and dozens of others. Bill Kenny has been listed as an influence by such great artists as Elvis Presley, Sam Cooke, Johnny Mathis, Sonny Till, Clyde McPhatter and many others. Bill Kenny is often noted as the father of Doo Wop for his high tenor singing and his introduction of the popular "Top & Bottom" format used by virtually every Doo Wop group in the 50's and 60's.
Since Bill Kenny broke up The Ink Spots in 1954 there have been well over 500 black vocal Quartets calling themselves The Ink Spots none of which have or had any original members. There are even groups still touring as The Ink Spots today. It is largely accepted that if the group didn't contain Bill Kenny then the group was/ is a fake.
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The Golden Age of The Ink Spots -The Best of Everything
The Ink Spots Lyrics
A Lovely Way to Spend an Evening Some like a night at the movies, some like a…
Address Unknown Address unknown, not even a trace of you Oh what I'd…
Always Always The Ink Spots Written by Irving Berlin This version …
Bewildered Bewildered Lost in a dream of you Where is the love I…
Bless You Bless you, for being an angel Just when it seemed that…
Christopher Columbus Mr. Christopher Columbus Sailed the sea without a compass W…
Coquette Hear me, why you keep fooling Little coquette, making fun of…
Cow-Cow Boogie Out on the plains down near Santa Fe I met a…
Do I Worry? Do I worry cause you're stepping out Do I worry cause…
Don't Get Around Much Anymore Missed the Saturday dance Heard they crowded the floor Could…
I Cover the Waterfront I cover the waterfront, I'm watching the sea,, Will the one …
I Don't Want To Set The World On Fire I don't want to set the world on fire I just…
I Still Feel the Same About You don"t know how it happened I don"t know who"s to blame I…
I Wish You the Best of Everything You made me love you, now say that we're through. You…
I'd Climb the Highest Mountain I'd climb the highest mountain, If I knew that when I'd…
I'll Get By I'll get by as long as I have you Though there…
I'll Never Smile Again Until I Smile At You I'll never smile again Until I smile at you I'll never laugh…
I'm Beginning to See the Light I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
I'm Making Believe I'm making believe that you're in my arms though I…
If I Didn't Care If I didn't care more than words can say If I…
Information Please Information please, tell me am I the lucky one? Information …
Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall Into each life some rain must fall But too much is…
It's a Sin to Tell a Lie Be sure it's true when you say I love you It's…
It's All over but the Crying It's all over but the crying And nobody's crying but me Frie…
It's Funny to Everyone But Me It's funny how you loved me Then forget so suddenly It's fun…
Java Jive I love coffee, I love tea I love the java jive…
Just For Me Just for a thrill You changed the sunshine to rain Just fo…
Let's Call the Whole Thing Off Things have come to a pretty pass, Our romance is…
Maybe Maybe you'll think of me When you are all alone Maybe the…
Memories of You Waking skies At Sunrise, Ev'ry sunset too, Seems to be Bring…
My Greatest Mistake My greatest mistake was falling in love, falling in love wit…
My Prayer My prayer is to linger with you At the end…
No Orchids For My Lady No orchids for my lady No sparkle in the wine For other…
Nothin' Do nothin' till you hear from me Pay no attention to…
Prisoner Of Love Alone from night to night you'll find me Too weak to…
Puttin' and Takin' I'm puttin', puttin' troubles far behind Taking, taking all …
Ring, Telephone, Ring I'm lonesome tonight Ring, telephone, ring I'm through with …
Sincerely Yours Sincerely yours, I sign my heart Sincerely yours, while we'r…
Slap That Bass Slap that bass Slap it till it's dizzy Slap that bass Keep t…
So Sorry Oh... there's nothing to avoid me so it's not it's…
Someone's Rocking My Dreamboat Someone's rocking my dreamboat, Someone's invading my dream;…
Stompin' at the Savoy Savoy, the home of sweet romance Savoy, it wins you at…
Stop Pretending Stop pretending, stop pretending, That you'd walk a mile Jus…
Street of Dreams Midnight, you heavy laden, it's midnight Come on and trade i…
That Cat Is High Boys, I'm mellow as a honeydew, yeah That cat is high Look…
That's The Way It Is I tremble at your touch I know I shouldn't But that's the…
That's When Your Heartaches Begin When you find your sweet heart in the arms of…
The Best Things in Life Are Free The moon belongs to everyone The best things in life are…
The Gypsy In a quaint caravan There's a lady they call the Gypsy She…
The Sweetest Dream The sweetest dream Began in my heart When I first met you I…
To Each His Own A rose must remain with the sun and the rain Or…
To Remind Me Of You Do nothin' till you hear from me Pay no attention to…
Until the Real Thing Comes Along I would work for you, I'd slave for you I'd be…
When the Sun Goes Down In the evening, mama When the sun goes down In the evening,…
When the Swallows Come Back to Capistrano When the swallows come back to Capistrano That's the day you…
Whispering Grass (Don't Tell the Trees) Why do you whisper, green grass Why tell the tress what…
Who Wouldn't Love You? Who wouldn't love you, who wouldn't care? You're so enchanti…
With Plenty of Money and You Well, baby, what I couldn't do With plenty of money and…
You're Breaking My Heart You're breaking my heart 'cause you're leaving You've fallen…
You're Breaking My Heart All Over Again You're breaking my heart 'cause you're leaving You've falle…
Your Feet's Too Big Who's that walkin' 'round here? Mercy! Sounds like baby pa…