(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.

Shine On Harvest Moon
The Ink Spots Lyrics

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Shine On Harvest Moon
The Ink Spots
Written by Jack Norworth and Nora Bayes

This version did not chart
Four versions charted in 1909 and one in 1910
Then, in 1931 Ethel Waters put it at # 9
And, in 1943 Kate Smith took it to # 19

Shine on, shine on harvest moon up in the sky
I ain't had no lovin' since January, February, June, or July
Snow time ain't no time to sit outdoors and spoon
Shine on, shine on harvest moon for me 'n' my gal

MONOLOGUE: c'mon, shine on harvest moon way up there in the sky. Don'tcha
know I ain't had no lovin' since January, February, June, AND July? Now, looka
here?don't you know better than to set out there in the snow 'n' spoon? c'mon, I don't
want no half moon, I want a full moon.

Oh, won't you shine on, shine on harvest moon(shine on, shine on)
Up in the sky? (shine on)
I ain't had no lovin' since January, February, June, or July
(ah-ooba, ah-ooba, ah-ooba , ah-ooh)
Don't you know you're gonna freeze to death
Settin' out there in the snow tryin' to spoon?
So shine on, shine on harvest moon for me 'n' my gal

Yeah!!

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Shine On Harvest Moon", written by Jack Norworth and Nora Bayes, are playful and romantic, colored by a bit of humor and a touch of melancholy. The song begins with an invitation to the harvest moon to shine bright in the sky, followed by the admission that the singer has been lacking in love for several months ("I ain't had no lovin' since January, February, June, or July"). The line sets the nostalgic tone of the song, hinting at missed opportunities and lost love. The singer chides the listener for trying to spoon in the snow, suggesting that the cold weather is not appropriate for romantic pursuits. The song ends with a plea for the moon to shine bright for the singer and his gal.

Line by Line Meaning

Shine on, shine on harvest moon up in the sky
Please brighten up the night sky with the light of the harvest moon.

I ain't had no lovin' since January, February, June, or July
I haven't experienced love since the beginning of the year, summertime excluded.

Snow time ain't no time to sit outdoors and spoon
It's too cold and snowy to sit outside and cuddle.

Shine on, shine on harvest moon for me 'n' my gal
Please shine brightly, full moon, for me and my partner.

Oh, won't you shine on, shine on harvest moon(shine on, shine on)
Please shine on, bright harvest moon.

Up in the sky? (shine on)
High up in the sky, above everything else.

Don't you know you're gonna freeze to death
Don't you realize that you'll be cold enough to freeze to death?

Settin' out there in the snow tryin' to spoon?
Are you really going to sit out in the snow and try to cuddle?

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Michael E. Renzi, Nora Bayes-Norworth, Jack Norworth

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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