The Ink Spots: Chapter 1
(4 downloads)Friday, Jan 25, 2008
The Ink Spots are one of, if not the most influential vocal acts in American popular music. They were formed in 1938 in Indianapolis, IN, furthering the Midwestern claim as sire to the R&B vocal act. I’ve got a lot of Ink Spots records to cover so I won’t get too involved with the subject in one article.
The Ink Spots were originally a raucous jive act much in the manner of Cab Calloway or Louis Jordan. However, it was through the mellowed jazz ballad that they found their success on the Billboard charts and managed to cross over to a large mainstream audience.
There is a story that the name ‘Ink Spots’ originates from them brainstorming for a name for their act with their manager. After a string of rejects, their manager’s pen ran dry and as he shook it four blots struck the blotter. Eureka! and all that BS. Who knows, maybe it’s true. It sure doesn’t sound like a true story. A more believable tale is that they changed their name from ‘King, Jack and Jester’ at the request, or perhaps demand, of bandleader Paul Whiteman in order to avoid confusion with his own group the King’s Jesters. Not that this story in any way contradicts the former.
The track that we have here is “To Each His Own”, music by Jay Livingston and lyrics by Ray Evans. The song was first recorded by Eddy Howard in 1946, peaking at number one on the Billboard chart. This Ink Spots version was the second recording of the song released later that same year, also peaking at number one.
Everything you ever wanted to know about the Ink Spots that can be known is here:
http://inkspots.ca/
Decca 23615, 1946