ORIGINAL INK SPOTS GROUP #4

June/40 - early 1942



 
MEMBERS:

Bill Kenny (tenor voice), 

Orville "Hoppy" Jones (bass voice, cello strung as bass or bass), 

Ivory "Deek" Watson (2nd tenor voice, guitar ), 

Charlie Fuqua (baritone voice, guitar, ukelele), 

Asa "Ace" Harris (pianist, arranger)

Deek Watson, Bill Kenny, Orville Jones, Charlie Fuqua and pianist Ace Harris performing I've Got A Bone To Pick With You from the movie The Great American Broadcast, 1941.

 

A better photo of this group showing Ace Harris at the piano and their manager Moe Gale (standing, center)

Recordings:

Decca - New York
 11Jun/40

Whispering Grass

Maybe

Released Jul/40 - 3258A

Released Jul/40 - 3258B
24Jun/40

Stop Pretending

I'm Only Human

You're Breaking My Heart All Over Again

Released Aug/40 - 3288A

Released Nov/40 - 3468B

Released Aug/40 - 3288B
16Jul/40

We Three

Puttin' and Takin"

Java Jive

Released Oct/40 - 3379B

Released Nov/40 - 3468A

Released Nov/40 - 3432B
8Aug/40

I'll Never Smile Again

Do I Worry?

Released Sep/40 - 3346A

Released Nov/40 - 3432A
20Aug/40

I Could Make You Care

My Greatest Mistake

Don't Ever Break A Promise

Released Sep/40 - 3346B

Released Oct/40 - 3379A

Never released on 78RPM in North America. Released in England on Brunswick - BR04183
23Dec/40

So Sorry

Ring, Telephone, Ring

I Can't Stand Losing You

That's When Your Heartaches Begin

I'm Still Without A Sweetheart

Why Didn't You Tell Me

 


I Wish I Could Say the Same

Released May/41 - 3806B

Released Feb/41 - 3626B

Released Mar/43 - 18542B

Released May/41 - 3720A


Released May/41 - 3806A

Released May/41 - 3872A (we have never seen a U.S. pressing of this record although we are aware of the English Brunswick and Decca Canadian pressings)

Never released on 78RPM in North America. Released in England on Brunswick - BR03673
30Dec/40

I'd Climb the Highest Mountain

What Good Would It Do?

Released Sep/45 - 18711A

Released May/41 - 3720B
23Jan/41 Please Take A Letter Miss Brown Released Feb/41 - 3626A
4Feb/41

Driftwood



We'll Meet Again

Released Jul/41 - 3872 (we have never seen a U.S. pressing of this record although we are aware of a Canadian pressing)

Released Mar/41 - 3656B
25Jul/41

Keep Cool, Fool

Until the Real Thing Comes Along

Hey, Doc

Released Aug/41 - 3958A

Released Aug/41 - 3958B

Released Sep/41 - 3987B
12Aug/41

It Isn't A Dream Anymore

Nothin'

Released Mar/42 - 4194B

Released Nov/41 - 4045A
21Aug/41 I Don't Want To Set the World On Fire Released Sep/41 - 3987A
27Aug/41 Don't Leave Now Released Apr/42 - 4303A
6Oct/41

Foo-Gee

Mine, All Mine, My My

I'm Not the Same Old Me

Released Apr/42 - 4303B

Released Nov/42 - 18528B

Released Aug/42 - 18461B
13Oct/41

Someone's Rocking My Dreamboat

Shout, Brother, Shout

Released Nov/41 - 4045B

Released Mar/42 - 4194A
17Nov/41

It's A Sin To Tell A Lie

Is It A Sin

Released Jan/42 - 4112A

Released Jan/42 - 4112B
Radio: Probably because of their busy vaudeville and night club schedule, we have found only about 25 radio shows for this group. Most are their own NBC 15 minute shows but others included The Kraft Music Hall with Bing Crosby and the Chamber Music Society of Lower Basin Street.
Vaudeville and Night Clubs: When Ace Harris replaced Bob Benson as pianist/arranger in June of 1940, the Ink Spots were appearing at the Little Rathskeller in Philadelphia, PA as part of a long, about 12 weeks, engagement (this may have been a result of the negotiated release of the Ink Spots from part of their 1939 contract so they could appear at the Hippodrome in Baltimore and the Paramount in New York). This was followed by another long engagement of eight weeks at the Blackhawk in Chicago. Following these two long appearances, they were on the road almost continuously, except for a break to make the movie, The Great American Broadcast. They did major tours with their Sunset Royal/NBC Orchestra and Erskine Hawkins Orchestra plus appearances with other orchestras including Ella Fitzgerald, Harry James, Louis Prima, and Floyd Campbell. They were held over at the Paramount in NYC in December of 1940 (for a second week with a new show) and July-Aug/41 (for a total of 4 weeks with a new, all-white show added for the second 2 weeks featuring the Ink Spots as an "added attraction"). The first 2 weeks consisted of an all-black show, "Lineup represents one of the few exclusively colored packages the Par has used, bill having been arranged as backing for the Ink Spots, who have been played so many weeks here the past year they're almost a house group." [Variety, 6Aug/41] The group was so popular that they did 1941 New Year's appearances in Detroit at 2 theaters - the Michigan and the Palm State. On 27August/41, this goup made the first of 3 consecutive Ink Spots appearances at the Annual Harvest Moon Ball amateur dance contest held at Madison Square Gardens in NYC.

Revised 8March2018