The Ink Spots Biography, Photos and Posters

The Ink Spots

Biography

Started: Early 1930s
City and Country of Origin: Indianapolis, Indiana
Music Training:
Awards: 1989 inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Top Recordings: "If I Didn't Care," "My Prayer," "Java Jive," "I Don't Want to Set the World on Fire," "Don't Get Around Much Anymore," "I'll Get By (As Long As I Have You), "The Gypsy"
The Ink Spots Biography: The Ink Spots were a popular black vocal group with nearly 50 pop hits between 1939-1951. They helped to define the musical genre that led to rhythm & blues, rock and roll, and the subgenre doo-wop. They and the Mills Brothers, another black vocal group of the 1930s and 1940s, gained much acceptance in the white community.

The Ink Spots formed in Indianapolis in the early 1930s with members Jerry Daniels (a tenor who was replaced by the most famous member, Bill Kenny, in early 1936), baritone Charlie Fuqua, second tenor Ivory "Deek" Watson, and bass Orville "Hoppy" Jones. After a series of unsuccessful recordings for Victor Records and Decca Records, they had their first smash hit with "If I Didn't Care", on Decca in 1939. They released such other Decca singles as "When The Swallows Come Back To Capistrano" (1940), Whispering Grass (1940), Do I Worry (1940), Java Jive (1940), Shout, Brother, Shout (1942), Cow-Cow Boogie (1944 - with Ella Fitzgerald) I'm Making Believe (1944 - with Ella Fitzgerald) and The Gypsy (1946 - their biggest hit).

Through 1939 the early Ink Spots were primarily a jive group and experienced little commercial success. It wasn't until 1939 when the group had all but called it quits that songwriter Jack Lawrence persuaded the group to try a new ballad he had written called "If I Didn't Care." For the recording the group decided to try a new approach. They started the song with the strains of a guitar vamp, followed by the ethereal voice of lead tenor Bill Kenny, who in turn gave way to a baritone recitation. The results were an instant success. "If I Didn't Care" became the groups signature song and sold over a million copies. It also created the formula for all of the Ink Spots future hits as well as future hits of other groups like Charlie Fuqua's nephew's group Harvey and The Moonglows.

When Charlie Fuqua was drafted in 1943, he was replaced by Bernie Mackey. Hoppy Jones, an important personality to the group, died in late 1944, near the height of their popularity. A feud between Bill Kenny and Deek Watson in 1945, led Watson went to form a group called the Brown Dots (which later became the 4 Tunes). He later formed a host of offshoot Ink Spots groups in the 1950s and 1960s. His place was taken in the original group by Billy Bowen, and Jones' by Cliff Givens (who was replaced after a short time by Herb Kenny, Bill's brother). Mackey left at this time and was briefly replaced by Huey Long. It was around this time that label mate Ella Fitzgerald contributed some of the vocal leads.

Charlie Fuqua rejoined the group in 1945, replacing Huey Long. This linup lasted into the early 1950s. Although the group continued to perform well into the 1950s their recording successes were behind them. It was also during the early 50s that numerous groups began popping up each claiming to be The Ink Spots.

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