(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.

Cow Cow Boogie
The Ink Spots Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

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'
The 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 doggies
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

Overall Meaning

The Ink Spots's song Cow-Cow Boogie tells the story of a meeting with a cowboy on the plains near Santa Fe, who sings a peculiar cowboy song as he rides along. The song itself, called the Cow Cow Boogie, is described as a ditty that the cowboy learned in the city. As he sings, he urges his doggies to get along and be on their way, trucking them down the fairway in a strange but catchy tune.

The lyrics emphasize the uniqueness of the cowboy's singing style, noting his western accent with a Dixie touch. He's described as a swinging half-breed who was raised on local ways, adding to the exotic and intriguing nature of the encounter. Overall, the lyrics paint a vivid picture of a chance meeting on the plains and capture the charming spirit of cowboy culture.

Line by Line Meaning

Out on the plains down near Santa Fe
While I was on the open countryside near Santa Fe

I met a cowboy ridin' the range one day
I encountered a cowboy while he was riding his horse

And as he jogged along I heard him singin'
As he was trotting by, I heard him singing aloud

The most peculiar cowboy song
The song he sang was unique and uncommon for a cowboy

It was a ditty, he learned in the city
The song was a ditty he picked up while in the city

Comma ti yi yi yeah
A phrase used to express enthusiasm or joy

Comma ti yippity yi yeah
Another exclamation of happiness or merriment

Now get along, get hip little doggies
Come on, move along quickly, little cattle

Get along, better be on your way
Hurry up and leave, it's time to move on

He trucked 'em on down that old fairway
He led the cattle down the old road

Singin' his Cow Cow Boogie in the strangest way
He sang his cowboy song in a really odd and peculiar way

Now singin' his cowboy songs
As he continued to sing his cowboy song

He's just too much
He is simply amazing or incredible

He's got a knocked out western accent with a dixie Touch
His accent combines both western and southern United States qualities

He was raised on local ways
He grew up with the traditional customs and beliefs of his area

He's what you call a swingin' half breed
He is someone of mixed race who lives a modern and fashionable lifestyle

Singin' his Cow Cow Booogie in the strangest way
He continued to sing his cowboy song in an unusual and unconventional manner

Comma ti yi yi yeah
An expression of excitement and enthusiasm

Comma ti yippity yi yeah
Another phrase conveying happiness and exhilaration

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BENNY CARTER, DON RAYE, GENE DE PAUL

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@alexanderhughes878

17w

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

All comments from YouTube:

@Richie_roo

16w

First African-American cowboy tune I've ever found

@roxanemurray8445

3y↑9

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.