Bill Kenny & the Ink Spots

The Ink Spots   c 1951

Bill Kenny / Billy Bowen / Herb Kenny / Charlie Fuqua

Source: Soul Walking

Long before anyone had any notion of R&B the Ink Spots were performing music that would develop into the doo wop limb of rhythm and blues. Formed in Indianapolis in 1934, the Ink Spots originally consisted of Jerry Daniels (tenor / guitar), Charlie Fuqua (baritone / guitar), Ivory Deek Watson (tenor / guitar) and Orville Hoppy Jones (bass / cello which he picked like a double bass). They first performed as a quartet in July of 1934 at the Apollo Theater in New York City with Tiny Bradshaw, at which time they named themselves The 4 Ink Spots. IMDb has them appearing in the short film directed by Milton Schwarzwald, 'Oh, What a Business!', in 1934.

The Ink Spots made their first recordings on 4 January of 1935 at RCA Studios in New York City commencing with 'Swingin' on the Strings' followed by 'Your Feet's Too Big', 'Don't 'Low No Swingin' In Here' and 'Swing, Gate, Swing'. Some label credits on titles by the Ink Spots go to John Hancock which is a pseudonym for Fred Fisher who may or may not have been the actual composer [Discogs].

'Swingin' on the Strings'   The Ink Spots   First recording

Recorded 4 Jan 1934 in NYC   Matrix BS-87269

Victor 24851 / Bluebird B-6530 / HMV B.186

Jerry Daniels (tenor) / Ivory Deek Watson (tenor)

Charlie Fuqua (baritone) / Orville Hoppy Jones (bass)

Composition: Jerry Daniels (label credit to John Hancock who is Fred Fisher)

'Don't 'Low No Swingin' In Here'   The Ink Spots   Third recording

Recorded 4 Jan 1934 in NYC   Matrix BS-87271

Victor 24876 / HMV B.8418

Jerry Daniels (tenor) / Ivory Deek Watson (tenor)

Charlie Fuqua (baritone) / Orville Hoppy Jones (bass)

Composition: Poss John Hancock (Fred Fisher) as on the label

Personnel in the Ink Spots began to shift in 1936 when Daniels was replaced as lead tenor by Bill Kenny (1914-78) with whom the group would experience its heydays. Fuqua and Watson were major names in this field of vocal harmony, but the Ink Spots in particular more orbited Kenny at center. Kenny's first track with the Ink Spots was another version of 'Your Feet's Too Big' on 12 May 1936 toward Decca 817.

'Your Feet's Too Big'   The Ink Spots   Bill Kenny's first recording

Recorded 12 May 1936 in NYC

Decca 817 / MCA MCFM-2573 (England)

Bill Kenny (tenor) / Ivory Deek Watson (tenor)

Charlie Fuqua (baritone) / Orville Hoppy Jones (bass)

Composition: Jack Hancock (Fred Fisher) / Ada Benson

The configuration of Kenny, Fuqua, Jones and Watson endured until 1943 when Fuqua was drafted into the U.S. Army. He was replaced by Bernie Mackey until March of 1945, then Huey Long until Fuqua's return to the Ink Spots in October 1945. In 1952 Fuqua left the Ink Spots to form Charlie Fuqua's New Ink Spots. He and Kenny had divided ownership of the Ink Spots 50/50 by that time. Fuqua's replacement was Everett Barksdale.

Jones was replaced upon his death in June 1944 by Cliff Givens for about five months, then Bill Kenny's fraternal twin brother, Herb Kenny, until 1951 when Adriel McDonald filled his spot to 1954. Differences between Bill Kenny and Watson led to the latter's departure in late 1944 to form the Brown Dots (later the Four Tunes), Kenny purchasing Watson's share in the Ink Spots for $10,000. His replacement was Billy "Butterball" Bowen until 1952.

Kenny continued with his Ink Spots through multiple personnel changes until shutting down the operation upon a final performance at the Bolero Bar in Wildwood, New Jersey, in July of 1954 to pursue a solo career. Numerous configurations of so-called Ink Spots would arise, but the official group vanished in 1954 after twenty years in the business.

The Ink Spots managed to place 27 songs in the Top Ten of the Pop or R&B charts from 1939 to 1949. One of those was 'If I Didn't Care' which was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame fifty years later in 1989. Another was their best-performing title overall which was 'We Three' reaching #3 in October of 1940. Four others were titles with Ella Fitzgerald, two of which found #1 in 1944: 'I'm Making Believe' and 'Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall'. Stacking of Top Ten titles for the Ink Spots below follows Music VF. However, the order of the 1939 recordings is 'If I Didn't Care' 12 January 1939, 'Address Unknown' 17 August 1939 and 'My Prayer' on 18 September 1939. 'If I Didn't Care' was also issued prior to 'Address Unknown' and is probably the Ink Spots' first charting release.

   Address Unknown   1939   #1 Pop
   If I Didn't Care   1939   #2 Pop
   My Prayer   1939   #3 Pop
   When the Swallows Come Back to Capistrano   Aug 1940   #4 Pop
   Maybe   Sep 1940   #2 Pop
   Whispering Grass (Don't Tell the Trees)   Oct 1940   #10 Pop
   We Three (My Echo, My Shadow and Me)   Oct 1940   #3 Pop
   I Don't Want to Set the World on Fire   Oct 1941   #4 Pop
   Ev'ry Night About This Time   1942   #6 R&B
   Just as Though You Were Here   1942   #10 R&B
   This Is Worth Fighting For   1942   #9 R&B
   I Can't Stand Losing You  1943   #1 R&B
   If I Cared a Little Bit Less   1943   #10 R&B
   Don't Get Around Much Anymore   1943   #2 Pop   #1 R&B
   Don't Believe Everything You Dream   March 1944   #14 Pop   #6 R&B
   Cow-Cow Boogie w Ella Fitzgerald   March 1944   #10 Pop   #1 R&B
   I'll Get by (As Long As I Have You)   May 1944   #7 Pop   #4 R&B
   I'm Making Believe w Ella Fitzgerald   Nov 1944   #1 Pop   #2 R&B
   Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall w Ella Fitzgerald  Nov 1944   #1 Pop   #1 R&B
   I'm Beginning to See the Light w Ella Fitzgerald   April 1945   #5 Pop
   The Gypsy   May 1946   #1 Pop   #1 R&B
   Prisoner of Love   June 1946   #9 Pop   #5 R&B
   To Each His Own   Aug 1946   #1 Pop   #3 R&B
   Ask Anyone Who Knows   1947   #5 R&B
   The Best Things in Life Are Free   1948   #10 R&B
   You Were Only Fooling   Dec 1948   #8 Pop   #15 R&B
   You're Breaking My Heart   Aug 1949   #6 Pop
   Melody of Love   April 1955   #10 UK

'If I Didn't Care'   The Ink Spots   Charts: #2 Pop 1939

Recorded 12 Jan 1939 in NYC

Numerous Decca releases including Decca 2286 / Coral / MCA

Bill Kenny (tenor) / Ivory Deek Watson (tenor)

Charlie Fuqua (baritone) / Orville Hoppy Jones (bass)

Film: Bill Kenny / Billy "Butterball" Bowen (tenor)

Charlie Fuqua (far right) / Adriel McDonald (bass center right)

Lip-synced for a Snader Telescription filmed c 1951

Snader Telescriptions produced films for for coin-operated juke box soundies

Composition: Jack Lawrence

'Address Unknown'   The Ink Spots   Charts: #1 Pop 1939

Recorded 17 Aug 1939 in NYC

Numerous Decca releases including Decca 2707 / MCA 2-4005 (England)

Bill Kenny (tenor) / Ivory Deek Watson (tenor)

Charlie Fuqua (baritone) / Orville Hoppy Jones (bass)

Composition: Carmen Lombardo / Dedette Lee Hill / Johnny Marks

'Maybe'   The Ink Spots   Charts: #2 Pop Sep 1940

Recorded 11 June 1940 in NYC

Numerous Decca releases including Decca 3258 / Coral / MCA

Bill Kenny (tenor) / Ivory Deek Watson (tenor)

Charlie Fuqua (baritone) / Orville Hoppy Jones (bass)

Composition: Allan Flynn / Frank Madden

'We Three'   The Ink Spots   Charts: #3 Pop Oct 1940

Recorded 16 July 1940 in NYC   Matrix 67928

Numerous Decca releases including Decca 3379 / Coral / MCA

Bill Kenny (tenor) / Ivory Deek Watson (tenor)

Charlie Fuqua (baritone) / Orville Hoppy Jones (bass)

Composition: Nelson Cogane / Sammy Mysels / Dick Robertson

'Java Jive'   The Ink Spots   Charts: #17 Pop March 1941

Recorded 16 July 1940 in NYC   Matrix 67931

Numerous Decca releases including Decca 3432 / Coral / MCA

Bill Kenny (tenor) / Ivory Deek Watson (tenor)

Charlie Fuqua (baritone) / Orville Hoppy Jones (bass)

Composition: Ben Oakland / Milton Drake

The Ink Spots appeared in the motion picture film, 'The Great American Broadcast' in 1941. Come the Abbot & Costello comedy, 'Pardon My Sarong', in 1942. Their appearance on the 'Ed Sullivan Show' aired on 27 June 1948. It was more television on 'Chance of a Lifetime' in November 1952. Kenny would eventually host his own television show from May to June of 1966. Kenny published a volume of poems in 1970 titled 'Who Is He?'. In 1973 he issued the album, 'With Love', on RCA Victor LSP-4784. As Kenny made a point of philanthropy throughout his career, proceeds from both went to the establishment of a foster home. 'Bill Kenny Sings' of 1977 contained both reissues and three new titles which seem to be his last released recordings: 'Love Me Baby', 'Tomorrow Always Comes' and 'No Summer Love'.

'I've Got a Bone to Pick with You'   The Ink Spots

Film: 'The Great American Broadcast' directed by Archie Mayo

Released 9 May 1941

Bill Kenny (tenor) / Ivory Deek Watson (tenor)

Charlie Fuqua (baritone) / Orville Hoppy Jones (bass)

'I Don't Want to Set the World on Fire'   The Ink Spots   Charts: #4 Pop Oct 1941

Recorded 27 August 1941 in NYC

Numerous Decca releases including Decca 3987 / MCA

Bill Kenny (tenor) / Ivory Deek Watson (tenor)

Charlie Fuqua (baritone) / Orville Hoppy Jones (bass)

Composition: Bennie Benjamin / Eddie Durham / Sol Marcus / Eddie Seiler

'Shout Brother Shout'   The Ink Spots

Recorded 13 Oct 1941 in NYC   Decca 4194

Bill Kenny (tenor) / Ivory Deek Watson (tenor)

Charlie Fuqua (baritone) / Orville Hoppy Jones (bass)

Composition: Watson / Herman Fairbanks

'Shout Brother Shout'   The Ink Spots

Film: 'Pardon My Sarong' w Abbot & Costello directed by Erle C. Kenton

Released 7 Aug 1942

Bill Kenny (tenor) / Ivory Deek Watson (tenor)

Charlie Fuqua (baritone) / Orville Hoppy Jones (bass)

Dancing: Tip, Tap & Toe (Raymond Winfield / Sammy Green / Teddy Frazier)

Composition: Watson / Herman Fairbanks

'Someday I'll Meet You Again'   The Ink Spots   Charts: #11 Pop July 1944

Recorded 6 Jan 1944 in NYC   Decca 18579 / Brunswick 03524 (UK)

Bill Kenny (tenor) / Ivory Deek Watson (tenor)

Charlie Fuqua (baritone) / Orville Hoppy Jones (bass)

Composition: Max Steiner / Ned Washington

'I Was Dancing With Someone'   The Ink Spots

Recorded 15 June 1950 in Los Angeles   Decca 27102

Bill Kenny (tenor) / Billy Bowen (tenor)

Charlie Fuqua (baritone) / Herb Kenny (bass)

Composition: Henry Nemo

'Time Out For Tears'   The Ink Spots

Recorded 27 Sep 1950 in NYC   Decca 27259

Bill Kenny (tenor) / Billy Bowen (tenor)

Charlie Fuqua (baritone) / Herb Kenny (bass)

Composition: Abe Schiff / Irving Berman

'The Best Way You Know How'   Bill Kenny   'Ed Sullivan Show'   1957

Composition: Sol Parker / Hal Hester

Bill Kenny w the Fraser MacPherson Quintet

Concert at Isy's Supper Club in Vancouver on 4 March 1959

'If I Didn't Care'   Bill Kenny   'The Generation Gap'   1969

Composition: Jack Lawrence

'No Summer Love'   Bill Kenny

From the album 'Bill Kenny Sings'   Quest Records Q 104 / Quest Q2-45   1977

Arrangement: Doug Parker   Composition: Richard Kolt / Norm Lampe

Kenny died on 23 March of 1978 of respiratory illness in New Westminster, Canada. The Ink Spots with Bill Kenny were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as an influence in 1989. They were elected into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 1999.