(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.

I Can't Stand Losing You
The Ink Spots Lyrics

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I′ve been kicked around
In my search for happiness
I've been up and down
In my struggle for success
I′ve stood all these things
But, I can't stand losing you

I have paid the price

When I trusted lying lips
I've had paradise
Slip right through my fingertips
I′ve stood all these things
But, I can′t stand losing you

Why must we be parted?
When our life has just begun?
Why leave me broken-hearted?
When I thought at last I'd won?

Can′t you hear the prayer?
That I'm saying constantly
Darling, if you care
Then, please hurry back to me
I can stand a lot
But, I can′t stand losing you

Darling, I've been kicked around
In my search for happiness
I′ve been way up and been way down
In my struggle for success

And I've stood all these things
But, honey I can't stand losing you
Yes, I just can′t stand it

I, I know, I paid the price
When I trusted lying lips
And I know that I had paradise
Slip right through my fingertips
And I′ve stood all these things
But, I can't stand losing you

Why must we be parted?
When our life has just begun?
Why leave me broken-hearted?
When I thought at last I′d won?

Can't you hear the prayer?
That I′m saying constantly
Darling, if you care
Then, please hurry back to me

I can stand a lot
But, I can't stand losing you

Overall Meaning

The Ink Spots' song "I Can't Stand Losing You" is a poignant tribute to the pain of lost love. The lyrics tell the story of a man who has struggled through life and endured many hard times, but nothing compares to the pain of losing the person he loves. He has tried to find success and happiness, but these things pale in comparison to the depth of his love for his partner. The singer is pleading with his lost love to come back to him, as he cannot bear the thought of living without them.

The song opens with a description of the singer's struggle and hardships in life. He has been "kicked around" and "up and down" searching for happiness and success. Despite these struggles, the singer has stood strong and endured, but losing his lover is too much to bear. The next verse reveals that the singer has been hurt in the past by trusting "lying lips." This pain is nothing compared to the heartbreak of losing his lover, who he sees as paradise slipping through his fingertips. The chorus repeats the refrain that the singer cannot stand losing his love and pleads for them to come back.

The bridge of the song is a cry of confusion and despair. The singer cannot understand why they must be parted when their life together has just begun. He thought they had won, but now he is left broken-hearted. He continues to plead with his lost love to return, as he cannot bear the thought of being without them. Finally, the song ends with the singer acknowledging that he has a high tolerance for pain and hardship, but losing his love is something he cannot bear.

I Can't Stand Losing YouThe Ink Spots Lyrics

I Can't Stand Losing You
The Ink Spots Lyrics