Editing The Ink Spots (section)

==1930s==
===Early background of founding members===
Daniels and Fuqua formed a vocal duo called "Jerry and Charlie", and performed in the Indianapolis area around 1931. About the same time, Jones and Watson were part of a quartet, "The Four Riff Brothers", who appeared regularly on radio station [[WLW]] in [[Cincinnati]], [[Ohio]]. In 1933, that group disbanded, and Watson, Daniels and Fuqua got together to form a new vocal, instrumental and comedy group, initially called "King, Jack, and Jester". They continued to appear regularly on radio in Ohio, and became a quartet when Jones joined the following year.

In July 1934, they accepted a booking at the [[Apollo Theater]], New York, supporting jazz bandleader [[Tiny Bradshaw]]. At this point they had changed their name to "The 4 Ink Spots". Later that year, the Ink Spots achieved international success touring the UK with [[Jack Hylton]]'s Orchestra, one review in the ''[[Melody Maker]]'' stating:
{{cquote|The sensation of the programme is the coloured quartette, the Four Ink Spots. They sing in a style something between the [[Mills Brothers]] and the Three Keys and accompany themselves on three tenor guitars and a cello&nbsp;— which is not bowed, but picked and slapped like a double bass. Their natural instinct for hot rhythm is exemplified in their terrific single-string solo work and their beautifully balanced and exquisitely phrased vocalisms. They exploit all kinds of rhythmic vocalisms&nbsp;— straight solos, concerted, [[Scat singing|scat]], and instrumental imitations. They even throw in a bit of dancing to conclude their act, and the leading guitarist simultaneously plays and juggles with his instrument.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://inkspots.ca/ACTIVITIES-34-40.htm |title=Original Ink Spots Activities By Date – Vol |publisher=Inkspots.ca |date=1936-11-06 |access-date=2012-04-13}}</ref>}}

They first recorded for [[Victor Records]] in 1935. Their early recordings included such songs as "Swingin' on the Strings", "Your Feet's Too Big", "Don't 'Low No Swingin' in Here" and "Swing, Gate, Swing". Despite their rising popularity as performers, their early records were not commercially successful.

===Bill Kenny joins===
In 1936, Daniels was replaced by a 21-year-old singer from Baltimore, [[Bill Kenny (singer)|Bill Kenny]], who signed on with the Ink Spots after winning first place in an amateur contest at Harlem's Savoy Ballroom. Three years later, Kenny was credited for bringing the group to global success with his unusual high tenor ballad singing.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rhino.com/article/the-ink-spots|title=The Ink Spots {{!}} Rhino|website=Rhino.com|language=en|access-date=2018-09-12}}</ref>

In 1938, after being in the group for two years, Kenny started to introduce the group to a new format that he called "Top & Bottom". This format was used primarily for ballads rather than the uptempo "jive" songs the group was used to performing. This format called for the tenor (Kenny or Watson) to sing the lead for one chorus followed by a chorus performed by bass singer Jones reciting the lyrics rather than singing them. After a chorus of the "talking bass" the lead tenor sang the rest of the song until the end. The earliest example of their "Top & Bottom" format is from a radio broadcast from 1938. The song, titled "Tune In on My Heart", features Kenny taking the lead and Jones performing the talking bass.<ref>''[[Chicago Defender]]'', July 12, 1952</ref>

Also in 1938, Kenny took his first feature solo in Decca studios. His feature was on a song titled "I Wish You the Best of Everything".  Although not in the "Top & Bottom" format, it was a ballad and used the signature Ink Spots guitar intro. Even though it got a good response, it was not very successful in terms of record sales and did not reach the pop chart.<ref>Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 7 July 1945, page 13.</ref>

==="If I Didn't Care" and the late 1930s===
{{main|If I Didn't Care}}
On January 12, 1939, the Ink Spots entered Decca studios to record a ballad written by a young songwriter named [[Jack Lawrence (songwriter)|Jack Lawrence]]. This ballad, "If I Didn't Care", was to be one of their biggest hits, selling over 19 million copies and becoming the 8th-[[List of best-selling singles|best-selling single of all time]].  This is the first studio recorded example of the Ink Spots "Top & Bottom" format with Kenny singing lead and Jones performing the "talking bass". For this recording, each member was paid $37.50; after the record sold 200,000 copies, however, Decca destroyed the original contract and the group was paid an additional $3,750. This was the recording that brought the group to global fame and established the "Top & Bottom" format as the Ink Spots "trademark". From 1939 until the group's disbanding in 1954, many of their songs employed this format.
The year 1939 also saw the Ink Spots enjoy commercial success with five other recordings that featured Kenny in the "Top & Bottom" format. Their most successful hit of 1939 was the Lombardo, Marks & Hill ballad, "Address Unknown".  Other successful hits from 1939 and early 1940 included "[[My Prayer]]",{{sfn|Gilliland|1994|loc=tape 2, side B}} "Bless You", "[[Memories of You]]", and "[[I'm Gettin' Sentimental Over You]]".<ref name="Goldberg, Marv 1998"/>