(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.

Nothin'
The Ink Spots Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Do nothin' till you hear from me
Pay no attention to what's said
Why people tear the seam of anyone's dream is over my head

Do nothin' till you hear from me
At least consider our romance
If you should take the word of others you've heard
Don't you know, I haven't a chance

True I've been seen with somebody new
But does that mean that I'm been untrue?
When we're apart the words in my heart reveal how I feel about you

Some kiss may cloud my memory
And others arms may hold a thrill

But please do nothin' till you hear from me
And baby you never will

Overall Meaning

The Ink Spots's song Do Nothin' Till You Hear from Me is a ballad that revolves around the idea of taking a step back and waiting before making any rash decisions. The lyrics of the song serve as a warning to those who may be quick to pass judgement and to those who are easily swayed by unfounded rumors. The singer urges their lover to pay no attention to what others may say about them and to wait until they hear directly from them before making any harsh judgements or assumptions.

The lyrics of the song also convey a sense of insecurity and vulnerability on the part of the singer. They have been seen with someone new, and while they maintain that they haven't been untrue, they also reveal that they are not immune to the allure and temptation of other potential romantic partners. However, despite these momentary diversions, the singer asserts that their commitment to their lover remains steadfast and unwavering.

In essence, the song serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of communication and the dangers of jumping to conclusions. By urging their lover to wait until they hear directly from them and to consider their own feelings before making any potentially damaging decisions, the singer demonstrates that true love requires patience, understanding, and a willingness to listen.

Line by Line Meaning

Do nothin' till you hear from me
Wait for my instruction before taking any action

Pay no attention to what's said
Don't listen to rumors or hearsay

Why people tear the seam of anyone's dream is over my head
I don't understand why people would want to ruin someone else's happiness

Do nothin' till you hear from me
I want you to wait until I contact you

At least consider our romance
Don't let rumors affect our relationship without considering how we feel

If you should take the word of others you've heard
If you believe what others are saying about me

Don't you know, I haven't a chance
I don't have a chance of convincing you otherwise

True I've been seen with somebody new
It's true that I've been seen in public with someone else

But does that mean that I'm been untrue?
Does that automatically mean that I'm being unfaithful?

When we're apart the words in my heart reveal how I feel about you
I still have feelings for you when we're not together

Some kiss may cloud my memory
Perhaps a kiss from someone else could temporarily affect my memory

And others arms may hold a thrill
Another person's embrace may bring temporary excitement

But please do nothin' till you hear from me
Please don't make any decisions until you hear from me

And baby you never will
And you never will take action until I give you the go-ahead

Lyrics © Freibank Musikverlags und vermarktungs GmbH, MUSIC SALES CORPORATION, Kanjian Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DUKE ELLINGTON, BOB RUSSELL

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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