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.
If
The Ink Spots Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If I didn't care, would I feel this way?
If this isn't love then why do I thrill?
And what makes my head go 'round and 'round
While my heart stands still?
If I didn't care, would it be the same?
Would my every prayer begin and end with just your name?
Would all this be true if I didn't care for you?
If I didn't care
Honey child, more than words can say
If I didn't care
Would I feel this way?
Darlin' if this isn't love
Then why do I thrill so much?
And what is it that makes my head go 'round and 'round
While my heart just stands still so much?
If I didn't care would it be the same?
Would my every prayer begin and end with just your name?
And would I be sure that this is love beyond compare?
Would all this be true if I didn't care for you?
The lyrics to The Ink Spots' song, If I Didn't Care, explore the intense emotions that come with falling in love. The singer asks themselves if their feelings would be the same if they did not care as deeply for their loved one. They question the nature of their own feelings, wondering if it could really be love, what causes the thrill they feel, and why their head is spinning while their heart remains still.
The chorus in particular highlights these emotions, asking if everything they feel and experience would still be true if they didn't care for their loved one. The repetition of the phrase "if I didn't care" suggests that the singer is grappling with these intense emotions and attempting to understand what they mean. Ultimately, the lyrics suggest that love is a complex and ineffable emotion that can bring both joy and confusion to those who experience it.
Overall, If I Didn't Care is a poignant and emotional exploration of the depths of love and the intense emotional experiences it can bring.
Line by Line Meaning
If I didn't care more than words can say
If my love for you could only be expressed with words, would it still be as strong?
If I didn't care, would I feel this way?
If I didn't love you, would I still feel the same emotions that I am feeling?
If this isn't love then why do I thrill?
If what I am feeling isn't love, then why do I feel so excited and exhilarated?
And what makes my head go 'round and 'round
while my heart stands still?
What is causing my thoughts to be so chaotic while my heart remains fixated on you?
If I didn't care, would it be the same?
If I did not love you, would everything between us remain unchanged?
Would my every prayer begin and end with just your name?
Would everything I wish for and desire be related solely to you if I didn't love you?
And would I be sure that this is love beyond compare?
Would I confidently believe that this is an incomparable love if I didn't love you?
Would all this be true if I didn't care for you?
None of what I experience and feel would be true if I didn't love you.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jack Lawrence
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Brian Patrick Crowley
Beautiful. First heard this on an Ink Spots CD I have from 1998 and this was the only recording of it I could find here on YouTube.
Okmusix
Hi,
thanks for adding a comment.
I ask you two minutes to go and see our online shop:
https://teespring.com/it/stores/ok-store-16
Here you can find quality products at an affordable price: every week we add new ones.
A little gift for you:
https://sellfy.com/euterpe/p/9dyslf/
Peter Ashford
what a fantastic rendition; Art Tatum recorded this a few years later with his trio. lovely song
oj shilinski
This is one of my favorites...
oj shilinski
Someone has this lovely song "If" confused with "If I Didn't Care" they are both wonderful, however, they are two totally different songs.
roscoe c. tarver
my favorite, ink spot song
Basically Wolf T_T
Beautiful Song
Kerry Painter
Nice.