(Born 12Jun/14, Philadelphia, died 11July/92)
by Bill "Porkchop" Proctor, Feb/02
Messner's favorite song on the Aladdin label. This was in 1949, no doubt adding to the friction among diverse talents that kept growing in the group (although I never heard him say a bad word about his brother Bill). Listening to The Key To My Heart probably provides a good insight into how the Ink Spots sounded when Herb filled in for his brother. When he missed a radio show in 1951 and the valet Adriel McDonald was introduced as the bass, that was the final straw. It might not have been so hard for Herb to swallow, but he got Adriel the job as valet back when he joined the group in 1945. He fared much better in the 50's making one recording on Federal with his Comets, and 5 discs plus one unreleased cut on MGM with his Rockets. Some of these recordings were Ink Spots style (the Ink Spots were imitated by many groups) with talking bass chorus. As Rock & Roll took over the music scene in the mid 50's, Herb left singing to work in radio, which was his ambition from childhood. He went from announcing to program manager, starting at WEBB in Baltimore and later moving to Washington. Golf was his pleasure and his nickname on the course was "Silk" by virtue of his beautiful drives. He carried his own bag into his 70's, and also bowled frequently. After retiring from radio in the late 70's he began his Reflections of the Ink Spots concerts in the Baltimore area always bestowing praise on brother Bill. He felt that God kept him here to perpetuate the Ink Spots, and he got his chance by representing them along with Jerry Daniels at the 2nd. Annual United in Group Harmony Association Hall of Fame Awards ceremony in 1992. His son, Paul, told me that Herb was not well days after the awards ceremony since he bowed out of a golf game. That wasn't his style. A dear friend and a true gentleman to the end, he passed away about 2 months later at the age of 78. |
||
Herb's longest tenure with an Ink Spots group was with this one - the group of Kenny, Bowen, Kenny and Fuqua that formed when Charlie Fuqua returned from the army. Note the cello Herb is holding but which he never played. Hoppy Jones, with his cello strung as a bass, was such a recognized part of the Ink Spots that later bass singers also held a cello but as far as we know, Hoppy was the only bass singer that ever played one [Photo from Bill Proctor's collection] . |
||
RECORDINGS:
Aladdin- #3048, Key To My Heart and Why Do I love you, released Feb/50
|
||