THE INK SPOTS
by Shirley A. Ramaley
The Ink Spots were very popular when I went to high school and then
college in the 1950’s. They started singing together in1934, but their
music and style of singing was still very popular in the 50’s and 60’s.
The original four were second tenor Ivory “Deek” Watson, tenor Jerry
Daniels, baritone Charlie Fuqua, and bass Orville ”Hoppy” Jones.
In early 1936, Daniels was replaced by the most famous member, Bill
Kenny. It was his voice that truly brought them fame. Through the years
members left or passed away, but their music continued with new singers.
They may have been older than the teens who listened to them in the
50’s, but we loved their style of music. And the Ink Spots music was
great for dancing some of the “slow dances” we did in the 50’s. They
were one of the most popular Black groups of the 50’s.
They also helped break down racial barriers by being one of the first
Black groups to perform at previously all-White venues. Their style of
perfect harmony has remained popular for decades. The beautiful and
flawless harmony of the group made them popular with people of all ages
and ethnic backgrounds. They helped lead the way to rhythm and blues,
rock and roll, and the doo-wop explosion of the 50’s. They had over 80
hit recordings.
My favorite song of theirs was always, and still is, “If I Didn’t Care.”
To this day I play the CD in my car and at home. It’s one of my all-time
favorites of any group. Over the years it’s sold over 19 million copies,
and is often considered their anthem.
Other top hits were “My Prayer,” “Do I Worry,” “The Gypsy,” “Marie” and
another favorite of mine, “I Don’t Want to Set The World on Fire.” I
also loved listening to “I’ll Get By,” “I’m Making Believe,” and
“Prisoner of Love.”
Along with the Mills Brothers, the Ink Spots were the most popular Black
vocal group of the 1950’s.
Other popular groups of the 50’s patterned themselves after the Ink
Spots, and admitted doing so. The Ink Spots also were, and are, the most
impersonated group in music history, and the 1950’s saw a number of
groups pop up that claimed to be Ink Spots. “Ink Spot” groups still
perform today that have no legitimate ties to the original Ink Spots.
The real Ink Spots have been called living legends of American music. In
1987 they were inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
To those of us who were in high school and college in the 50’s, the Ink
Spots bring back wonderful memories of great music, played at the school
dances, and every afternoon after school, on the radio.
