The Ink Spots were an American pop vocal group who gained international fame in the 1930s and 1940s. Their unique musical style led to the rhythm and blues and rock and roll musical genres, and the subgenre doo-wop. The Ink Spots were widely accepted in both the white and black communities, largely due to the ballad style introduced to the group by lead singer Bill Kenny. In 1989, the Ink Spots (Bill Kenny, Deek Watson, Charlie Fuqua and Hoppy Jones) were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and in 1999 they were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame.
Lineup and members
In 1943, Ink Spots baritone singer and guitarist Charlie Fuqua was drafted into the US Army. He chose his friend Bernie Mackey to be his temporary replacement until he returned to the group. After being with the group for two years, Mackey was replaced by Huey Long in March 1945. Long completed the role as a "fill in" until Fuqua finally returned in October 1945.  Hoppy Jones, an important personality to the group, died in October 1944, after collapsing on stage at the Cafe Zanzibar in New York City, near the height of their popularity. Hoppy Jones had been having cerebral hemorrhages for a year, and had fallen ill from it in June 1944. Jones was temporarily replaced by Cliff Givens who filled in for five months, from October 1944 to March 1945. Jones' permanent replacement was to be Bill Kenny's brother (and fraternal twin) Herb Kenny. Herb Kenny sang with the group from 1945 to 1951 when he went out for a career as a solo artist. The last bass singer for the Ink Spots was Adriel McDonald who was with the group from 1951 to 1954. McDonald was previously the Ink Spots' personal valet, a job given to him by Herb Kenny with whom he had sung in a group called "The Cabineers" in the early 40's.  Due to personality clashes between Bill Kenny and Deek Watson after Hoppy Jones' death, Kenny decided he'd rather carry on as the leader of the group and bought Watson's share of the group for $10,000, which in turn gave Kenny the power to kick Watson out of the group. Watson went on to form a group similar in style to the Ink Spots called the Brown Dots (which later became the Four Tunes). Watson's place was filled by Billy "Butterball" Bowen who sang with the group from 1943 to 1952.

Q: Who was the leader of the group ?
A: Hoppy Jones, an important personality to the group, died in October 1944,

Q: Who was the lead guitarist ?
A: unknown

Q: Who else was in the group ?
A: Charlie Fuqua was drafted into the US Army. He chose his friend Bernie Mackey to be his temporary replacement

Q: Did he come back to the group after he left the army ?
A: Mackey was replaced by Huey Long in March 1945. Long completed the role as a "fill in" until Fuqua finally returned in October 1945.

Q: Who else was in the group ?
A: Herb Kenny sang with the group from 1945 to 1951 when he went out for a career as a solo artist.

Q: Who replaced him after he left ?
A: The last bass singer for the Ink Spots was Adriel McDonald who was with the group from 1951 to 1954.
Do you know of any other member ?
Billy "Butterball" Bowen
Billy "Butterball" Bowen