While numerous personnel changes have taken place within the group in its 60+ years of existence, the familiar close harmonies remain The Ink Spots' stock in trade. Making up the current group are bass singer-narrator Harold Winley, second lead Sonny Hatchett, lead tenor Grant Kitchings; and the newest Ink Spot, baritone and guitarist, Morris Dow.
The Ink Spots' story begins in Indianapolis, Indiana in 1932, when four young men - Deek Watson, Charles Fuqua, Orville "Hoppy" Jones and Jerry Daniels - formed the first version of the group. The quartet performed as the Riff Brothers and the Percolating Puppies before settling on the Ink Spots name. In search of a recording contract, the group headed to New York City, where they met up with singer Bill Kenny, who replaced Daniels as the group's lead tenor in 1936. Three years later, The Ink Spots had their first million-selling record, If I Didn't Care. The song, which would be their biggest hit, ultimately sold 19 million copies.
Kenny left the group for a solo career in 1945. The replacement was Jim Nabbie and the hits continued over the next decade; I Don't Want To Set The World On Fire, To Each His Own, My Prayer, I'll Never Smile Again, A Lovely Way To Spend An Evening, Java Jive, Maybe, Into Each Life Some Rain May Fall, We Three, It's A Sin To Tell A Lie, Don't Get Around Much Anymore, Prisoner of Love ... and on and on. After the remaining original members left the group, it was up to Nabbie to keep things going. Frustrated by acts billing themselves as The Ink Spots, Nabbie acquired the rights to the Ink Spots' name and registered it as a trademark. While the frequency of hits slowed in the mid '50's, The Ink Spots' influence was heard in the many doo-wop vocal groups formed during this period, as well as many groups, like the Temptations, which would come along later. The Ink Spots' musical impact was recognized formally in 1987 when inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame and into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989. They have been inducted into the Apollo Hall of Fame and, in 1997, into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame.
Nabbie and the rest of the Ink Spots continued to tour, in the neighborhood of some 200 dates a year. Especially pleasing were the 10 to 20 college dates the group would perform each year, where young people, many of whose parents weren't born at the time of The Ink Spots' first hits, would get their first chance to hear the quartet. Nabbie claimed that he was always amazed that younger audiences would accept the "old timers" music so enthusiastically.
In September 1992, Jim Nabbie, "Mr. Ink Spots" for 47 years, passed away, just before the start of an European tour. The Ink Spots were faced suddenly with the prospect of carrying on without their longtime friend and colleague.
More recently, the band has been introduced to a new, or perhaps, younger audience through the highly successful 'Fallout ' series of RPGs, which features the songs 'I Don't Want To Set The World On Fire' (Fallout 3) and 'Maybe' (Fallout).
But carry on the group has! Grant, who had been with The Ink Spots many years ago, was welcomed immediately by audiences with standing ovations. And so it appears that The Ink Spots will remain a viable musical entity for many years to come.
The Ink Spots Bios:
HAROLD WINLEY
Bass Singer/Narrator
His association with The Ink Spots goes back more than fifty years; before he became an original member of THE CLOVERS. It is now more than twenty-five years that he has been performing with THE INK SPOTS on a continual basis. The deep resonance of his voice has thrilled audiences worldwide. He is the "intellectual" of the group and is interested in everything and anything . . . but photography and music are his passions. Born in Washington, DC where most of his family still resides, he was a resident of New York City for many years. He now resides in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
SONNY HATCHETT
Second Lead/Second Tenor
Sonny is the Group's comedian . . . both on-stage and off-stage . . . and has appeared as a single artist nationally and internationally. Sonny has many comedy albums to his credit. He is also a songwriter and comedy writer and you'll often see his smiling face in movies and commercials filmed in the Miami area. He has been a member of THE INK SPOTS for more than twenty-five years and has earned his nickname of "Twinkle Toes" for his intricate steps on stage. Born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland, he now makes his home in the Fort Lauderdale area.
HERMAN DENBY
Lead Tenor
When Grant Kitchings (lead singer 1995-2001) became ill while performing with THE INK SPOTS on the Mississippi Queen, Herman responded immediately and was on the next flight to New Orleans. Those were big shoes to fill, but he did so very well. We are proud to have Herman as a permanent member of the group now that Grant has sadly passed. Herman is a very modest man but he is a published poet, a writer and a songwriter. He was an original member of the "Doo-Wop Hall of Fame" group THE SWALLOWS and wrote most of their songs. He is a life long friend of Sonny Hatchett. He was also born in Baltimore but now makes New York City his home.
MORRIS DOW
Baritone/Guitarist
A native of Philadelphia, he now makes his home in Baltimore, Maryland. He has scored music for many motion pictures and television and radio commercials. Also known as one of the finest jazz harmonica players in the country today, he is a guitarist extraordinare. He is also a writer and has recently had a beautiful book published. Before joining THE INK SPOTS, he toured with many famous artists including Jimmy McGriff and Nancy Wilson. He also worked with Herb Kenny, the brother of THE INK SPOTS' original lead singer, Bill Kenny.
Cow Cow Boogie
Ink Spots Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I met a cowboy ridin' the range one day
And as he jogged along I heard him singin'
The most peculiar cowboy song
It was a ditty, he learned in the city
Comma ti yi yi yeah
Comma ti yippity yi yeah
Get along, better be on your way
Get along, get hip little doggies
He trucked 'em on down that old fairway
Singin' his Cow Cow Boogie in the strangest way
Comma ti yi yi yeah
Comma ti yippity yi yeah
[Chorus: x2]
Now singin' his cowboy songs
He's just too much
He's got a knocked out western accent with a dixie
Touch
He was raised on local ways
He's what you call a swingin' half breed
Singin' his Cow Cow Booogie in the strangest way
Comma ti yi yi yeah
Comma ti yippity yi yeah
The lyrics of Ink Spots's song Cow Cow Boogie narrate a chance encounter with a singing cowboy who is serenading his herd of cattle, fondly called 'doggies'. The singer meets the cowboy, who gives a peculiar song with a western swing sound that he learned in the city. The cowboy's music is drawn from his unique cultural background made of western and Dixie influences. As the cowboy continues on his journey, he encourages the doggies to get along, move on to their destination and hums his peculiar cowboy song. The lyrics' chorus is repeated twice, constantly reminding the listener of the cowboy's melodic tune.
The song's lyrics describe a pleasant illustration of the American west, its culture and music. They also paint a picture of a cultural phenomenon known as the singing cowboy, whose music entertained and thrilled audiences in the early 20th century. Ink Spots's Cow Cow Boogie, while catchy, tells the story of the cowboy and his life, even in the end only the lingering sound of his melodious voice remains.
Line by Line Meaning
Out on the plains down near Santa Fe
I encountered a cowboy in the vast open grasslands close to Santa Fe
I met a cowboy ridin' the range one day
I came across a cowboy who was riding his horse through the countryside
And as he jogged along I heard him singin'
As he rode at a steady pace, I could hear him singing a tune
The most peculiar cowboy song
It was a strange song for a cowboy to be singing
It was a ditty, he learned in the city
He must have picked up the song while he was in town
Comma ti yi yi yeah
The chorus line of his song
Comma ti yippity yi yeah
The second part of the catchy chorus
Now get along, get hip little doggies
Move on and get with it, young cattle
Get along, better be on your way
Move along, it's time to go
He trucked 'em on down that old fairway
He drove them down the path towards the fairgrounds
Singin' his Cow Cow Boogie in the strangest way
He sang his peculiar cowboy song in an unusual manner
Now singin' his cowboy songs
He was now singing his cowboy tunes
He's just too much
He was an excellent performer
He's got a knocked out western accent with a dixie Touch
He spoke with a unique blend of a western and southern accent
He was raised on local ways
He grew up with the customs of the community in which he lived
He's what you call a swingin' half breed
He was a person with a mixed background who enjoyed the popular music of the time
Singin' his Cow Cow Booogie in the strangest way
He continued singing his peculiar cowboy song in a unique manner
Comma ti yi yi yeah
The chorus line of his song
Comma ti yippity yi yeah
The second part of the catchy chorus
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Don Raye, Benny Carter, Gene De Paul
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@alexanderhughes878
Cow Cow Boogie Lyrics
Artist(Band):Ella Fitzgerald
Out on the plains down near Santa Fe
I met a cowboy ridin' the range one day
And as he jogged along I heard him singin'
A most peculiar cowboy song
It was a ditty, he learned in the city
Comma ti yi yi yeah
Comma ti yippity yi yeah
Now get along, get hip little DOGIES
Get along, better be on your way
Get along, get hip little DOGIES
AND He trucked 'em on down that old fairway
Singin' his Cow Cow Boogie in the strangest way
Comma ti yi yi yeah
Comma ti yippity yi yeah
(Chorus)
Singin' his cowboy songs
He's just too much
He's got a knocked out western accent with a HARLEM touch
He was raised on LOCO WEED
He's what you call a swing half breed
Singin' his Cow Cow Booogie in the strangest way
Comma ti yi yi yeah
Comma ti yippity yi yeah
@Richie_roo
First African-American cowboy tune I've ever found
@roxanemurray8445
Just stumbled onto this, and it took me back to my childhood. My mom used to always play this on the piano. The version I stumbled across was Ella Mae Morse's, but this is the one Mom would have liked. Huge Ella fan.
@elmarie1699
'Without Reservations' starring John Wayne , brought me here❤
@isabelleon3360
First time I heard this was on a cassette of song of Ella Fitzgerald one of my Mom's favorite singers💖 I Love this version
@christinagiagni3578
great tune
@Whoisager
Love this. Ty
@Devin0835
Raging Bull and Aviator. This and “Do I Worry?”!
@kennypridemore5466
True music True talent which there's is absolutely non now days
@stephenhathaway269
Who is the trumpet player in this total gem of a tune?
@kerrypainter9095
I like it!