(Born 14Dec/15 - died 7Nov/95, Indianapolis)
THE ORIGINAL (FORGOTTEN?) TENOR OF THE INK SPOTS According to Marv Goldberg, Jerry Daniels joined Charlie Fuqua and Bernie Mackey to form an unnamed coffee pot band sometime in 1929. Charlie had a shoe shine stand across the road from the Stutz Bearcat automobile factory in Indianapolis. This group would sing, dance and play instruments with Jerry playing guitar and ukulele. In February 1931, while still in high school, Jerry was a member of a band. The Indianapolis Recorder (February 28) reported: "Another new orchestra organized among the younger set is the one called the Ten Rhythm Boys. The orchestra is made up of high school boys under the direction of Donald Bundle. They are Herman Twines, cornetist; Roger Jones, banjoist; Scoba Rhodes, Beryl Steiner, Bertram Gardner, David Clark, saxophonists; John Overton, trombonist; Jerry Daniels, drums; Stanley Overton, pianist. These boys someday will be the best in the city among jazz orchestras." Sometime prior to June of 1931, Charlie Fuqua and Jerry decided to try the big time. Leaving Bernie Mackey behind, they began to appear in vaudeville (we have never found a note or advertisement mentioning an appearance by this group) as Jerry and Charlie. This group had some success and they made over 100 radio broadcasts on WKBF, Indianapolis beginning on 19Jun/31. In the fall of 1933, Deek Watson joined Jerry and Charlie to form a new group, perhaps called the Gates Bros. at first, the King, Jack and Jester. Jerry was one of the four original Ink Spots whose first known performance was at the Apollo Theater in New York City the week of 3-9 August, 1934. He stayed with the Ink Spots only until early 1936. According to Marv Goldberg, Deek Watson said Jerry was "...to ill to continue..." but when he interviewed Jerry Daniels he states Jerry said that, "...the only thing he was 'sick' of was making so little money [More Than Words Can Say, Scarecrow Press, Inc., 1998, p.29.] |
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After returning to Indianapolis, Jerry formed other groups. Although little information is available, Marv Goldberg indicates they were: |
The Three Spades were Jerry Daniels, Bill Jennings (six-string guitar), and his brother Al Jennings (on four-string guitar). |
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See and hear Jerry on YouTube This is his last known performance in 1988. | |
Jerry at the United in Group Harmony Association(UGHA) 2nd Hall
of Fame induction in April, 1992 when the Ink Spots were honored. The
others are Harold Winley ( some Jim Nabbie Ink Spots groups), far left,
Herb Kenny, far right, and Ronnie Italiano who was the founder of the
UGHA, top. |
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Recordings: | ||
The Three Spades, Vocalion masters, all were recorded in 1937 and unissued. Vocalion was a subsidiary of Columbia Records. (All except Rusty Hinge can be heard on the vocal group harmony web site.) |
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AMC-8801, Classic Ink Spots, Indianapolis Ballroom,
1988. Jerry Daniels joined Nat Williams' Ink Spots for two songs (plus the
introduction to Your Feet's Too Big): Ordinary (composed by Daniels) And Then Some |
2JUN/10