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The Ink Spots were an African-American pop vocal group who gained international fame in the 1930s and 1940s. Their unique musical style led to the rhythm and blues and rock and roll musical genres, and the subgenre doo-wop. The Ink Spots were widely accepted in both the white and black communities, largely due to the ballad style introduced to the group by lead singer Bill Kenny.
The Ink Spots formed in the early 1930s in Indianapolis. The founding members were:
Orville "Hoppy" Jones (born Feb.17,1902 – Oct.18,1944) sang bass. He played cello in the manner of a stand up bass.
Ivory "Deek" Watson (July 18,1909 – Nov.4,1969) sang tenor and played tenor guitar.
Jerry Daniels (Dec.14,1915 – Nov.7,1995) sang tenor and played guitar and ukulele.
Charlie Fuqua (Oct.20,1910 – Dec.21,1971) had a baritone voice and played guitar.
In July 1934 they accepted a booking at the Apollo Theater, New York, supporting Tiny Bradshaw. At this point they had changed their name to "The 4 Ink Spots". Later in 1934, the Ink Spots achieved international success touring the UK with Jack Hylton's Orchestra.
Between the years 1940 and 1949 the Ink Spots landed well over 30 hits on the US Pop Charts with 18 of them on the top 10.
In 1952, Charlie Fuqua left Bill Kenny to form his own vocal group using the name "Ink Spots". At this time Kenny and Fuqua each owned 50% of the Ink Spots however it was decided by court ruling that Kenny's group was to continue on as the original "Ink Spots" while Fuqua's group was to use the name "Charlie Fuqua's New Ink Spots". Fuqua however did not go by this name and against court ruling called his group the "original" Ink Spots.
In 1989, the Ink Spots (Bill Kenny, Deek Watson, Charlie Fuqua and Hoppy Jones) were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and in 1999 they were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame. Since the Ink Spots disbanded in 1954, there have been well over 100 vocal groups calling themselves "The Ink Spots" without any right to the name, and without any original members of the group. These groups often have claimed to be "2nd generation" or "3rd generation" Ink Spots.
The Ink Spots - Mama Don't Allow (1935)
The Ink Spots formed in the early 1930s in Indianapolis. The founding members were:
Orville "Hoppy" Jones (born Feb.17,1902 – Oct.18,1944) sang bass. He played cello in the manner of a stand up bass.
Ivory "Deek" Watson (July 18,1909 – Nov.4,1969) sang tenor and played tenor guitar.
Jerry Daniels (Dec.14,1915 – Nov.7,1995) sang tenor and played guitar and ukulele.
Charlie Fuqua (Oct.20,1910 – Dec.21,1971) had a baritone voice and played guitar.
In July 1934 they accepted a booking at the Apollo Theater, New York, supporting Tiny Bradshaw. At this point they had changed their name to "The 4 Ink Spots". Later in 1934, the Ink Spots achieved international success touring the UK with Jack Hylton's Orchestra.
Between the years 1940 and 1949 the Ink Spots landed well over 30 hits on the US Pop Charts with 18 of them on the top 10.
In 1952, Charlie Fuqua left Bill Kenny to form his own vocal group using the name "Ink Spots". At this time Kenny and Fuqua each owned 50% of the Ink Spots however it was decided by court ruling that Kenny's group was to continue on as the original "Ink Spots" while Fuqua's group was to use the name "Charlie Fuqua's New Ink Spots". Fuqua however did not go by this name and against court ruling called his group the "original" Ink Spots.
In 1989, the Ink Spots (Bill Kenny, Deek Watson, Charlie Fuqua and Hoppy Jones) were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and in 1999 they were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame. Since the Ink Spots disbanded in 1954, there have been well over 100 vocal groups calling themselves "The Ink Spots" without any right to the name, and without any original members of the group. These groups often have claimed to be "2nd generation" or "3rd generation" Ink Spots.
The Ink Spots - Mama Don't Allow (1935)