The Ink Spots

USA, 1934–1954

American vocal group whose high-tenor lead and spoken bass passages on ballads such as 'If I Didn't Care' established a template taken up by doo-wop and vocal rhythm and blues.

MusicRoots documents 1 artist who influenced The Ink Spots and 3 artists The Ink Spots influenced in turn. Every connection cites a published source.

Who influenced The Ink Spots?

• The Mills Brothers — The Ink Spots followed the close-harmony, instrument-imitating vocal style the Mills Brothers pioneered, refining it into the ballad sound that fed doo-wop.

Which artists did The Ink Spots influence?

• The Drifters — The smooth vocal-group balladry of the Ink Spots was among the harmony traditions the Drifters drew on in shaping their R&B sound.
• The Platters — The Platters' romantic ballad style descended directly from the Ink Spots — they made a career of the Ink Spots' high-lead vocal-group sound.
• The Coasters — The vocal-group harmony tradition of the Ink Spots was the foundation the Coasters' doo-wop-rooted group sound was built on.