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.
Until the Real Thing Comes Along
Ink Spots Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'd be a baker or a knave for you.
If that ain't love it'll have to do
Until the real thing comes along.
I'd gladly move the earth for you
To prove my love, dear, and its worth for you.
If that ain't love it'll have to do
With all the words, dear, at my command,
I just can't make you understand.
I'll always love you, darling, come what may.
My heart is yours. What more can I say?
I'd beg for you. I'd lie for you.
I'd draw the stars down from the sky for you.
If that ain't love it'll have to do
Until the real thing comes along.
With all the words, dear, at my command,
I just can't make you understand.
I'll always love you, darling, come what may.
My heart is yours. What more can I say?
I would rob, steal, beg, borrow and I'd lie for you.
I'd draw the stars down from the sky for you.
If that ain't love it'll have to do
Until the real thing comes along.
The lyrics of Ink Spots’s song “Until The Real Thing Comes Along” talk about a love that is strong and intense; a love that makes one willing to do anything and everything to make it work. The song’s protagonist states that they would work, slave, bake or do anything to prove their love. They would move the earth and do everything in their capacity to show how much they care. The lyrics speak of a kind of devotion and willingness to put oneself in risky situations, like begging, stealing, borrowing, and lying. All of this is out of love.
However, the singer also says that if this isn’t sufficient, it will have to do “until the real thing comes along.” It hints at a certain insecurity. The singer is willing to show their love but is also afraid that it might not be enough for their love to be reciprocated. However, all said and done, the singer’s love is undying, and nothing can change that.
This song has a universal theme that everyone can relate to: the feeling of loving somebody so much that you are willing to do everything to be with them. Inkspots’ rendition of the song is soulful, and the melody is quite pleasant. It is a classic song that has been covered by many artists, including Etta James and Aretha Franklin.
Line by Line Meaning
I would work for you, I'd slave for you
I'd be a baker or a knave for you.
If that ain't love it'll have to do
Until the real thing comes along.
I am willing to work tirelessly and do anything to make you happy, even if it means demeaning myself. If this is not love, then I will accept it for now, until I find true love.
I'd gladly move the earth for you
To prove my love, dear, and its worth for you.
If that ain't love it'll have to do
Until the real thing comes along
I am ready to do the impossible to showcase my undying love for you, just to prove how much you mean to me. If this isn't true love, then I'll wait until it's real.
With all the words, dear, at my command,
I just can't make you understand.
I'll always love you, darling, come what may.
My heart is yours. What more can I say?
Even though I possess excellent communication skills, I can't seem to convey my feelings for you. However, regardless of the situation at hand, I will always love you with an undying affection.
I'd beg for you. I'd lie for you.
I'd draw the stars down from the sky for you.
If that ain't love it'll have to do
Until the real thing comes along.
Without a second thought, I would plead and deceive to fulfill your desires. I'm willing to bring down the stars to prove my love to you. If this isn't true love, I'll continue waiting until it comes along.
I would rob, steal, beg, borrow and I'd lie for you.
I'd draw the stars down from the sky for you.
If that ain't love it'll have to do
Until the real thing comes along.
I am willing to do anything, including immoral deeds to fulfill the desires of the one I love. I'll even make the impossible happen to show my love. If this isn't true love, I'll keep searching until I find it.
Lyrics © IMAGEM MUSIC INC
Written by: ALBERTA NICHOLS, L.E. FREEMAN, MANN HOLINER, SAMMY CAHN, SAUL CHAPLIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind