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.
Prisoner Of Love
Ink Spots Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Too weak to break the chains that bind me
I need no shackles to remind me
I'm just a prisoner of love
For one command I stand and wait now
From one who's master of my fate now
I can't escape for it's too late now
What's the good of my caring if someone is sharing those arms with me
Although she has another, I can't have another for I'm not free
She's in my dreams awake or sleeping
Upon my knees to her I'm creeping
My very life is in her keeping
I'm just a prisoner of love
What's the good of my caring if someone is sharing those arms with me
Although she has another, I can't have another for I'm not free
She's in my dreams awake or sleeping
Upon my knees to her I'm creeping
My very life is in her keeping
I'm just a prisoner of love
The lyrics of Ink Spots' "Prisoner of Love" delve into the complex nature of love, particularly unrequited love. The singer finds himself alone night after night, unable to break the chains that bind him to his feelings for his beloved. He is a prisoner of love and cannot escape, despite the fact that he needs no shackles to remind him.
The singer clearly cares deeply for this person, standing and waiting for them to command him. He is under their control, with no way to escape the hold they have over him. He speaks of being unable to have another, despite the fact that his beloved has someone else. He cannot free himself from the hold she has over him.
Line by Line Meaning
Alone from night to night you'll find me
I spend my nights alone, with no one to comfort me
Too weak to break the chains that bind me
I am powerless to break free from the hold love has on me
I need no shackles to remind me
I don't need physical chains to understand that I am bound to someone
I'm just a prisoner of love
I am trapped in the emotions that come with being in love
For one command I stand and wait now
I am willing to wait for any desire or need from the one I love
From one who's master of my fate now
The one I love has complete control over my life and destiny
I can't escape for it's too late now
I cannot break free from the hold love has on me, it's too late
What's the good of my caring if someone is sharing those arms with me
My feelings for the one I love are pointless if someone else is sharing their affections
Although she has another, I can't have another for I'm not free
I cannot pursue another love interest because I am bound to the one I love
She's in my dreams awake or sleeping
The one I love is constantly on my mind, whether I'm awake or asleep
Upon my knees to her I'm creeping
I am so devoted to the one I love that I am figuratively 'groveling' to them
My very life is in her keeping
The one I love has control over my life and well-being
I'm just a prisoner of love
I am trapped by the intense emotions that come with loving someone
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Songtrust Ave, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: JOEL DIAMOND, L. RUSSELL BROWN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@carlosa.sanchez896
Great song by a legendary group. It's part of the soundtrack for the psychological thriller,
"Delirium", used somewhat tongue in cheek, considering how it applies to the plot.
@ellenpearljackson5219
My dad taught me to enjoy and appreciate this beautiful group call The ink spots what a beautiful song
@mchapman132
My favorite group. They were fabulous.
@smithsonite
I loved this group when I was young.Still do. Feel like crying.
@catlover34fl
I love the Ink Spots. If only they had music like this today. It's all noise and gimmicks today. I have a few 78s of the Ink Spots that were in my late mother's collection. They were her favorite singing group especially during the second world war in the early 1940s.
@requiem165
There is still music like this being made today, just look for it
@ChristopherScottDixon
TY for the upload, magnificent as always! :-)
@robotubetwob
I want to live in the traverse between this and James Brown's version.
@ellenpearljackson5219
I feel the same way that you do I love both versions
@NukeABagel
I cant listen to this song without thinking of that awkward part of Eric Andre singing the first line