William Francis Kenny Jr. (June 12, 1914 – March 23, 1978), known professionally as Bill Kenny, was a pioneering African American tenor vocalist with a wide vocal range, spanning four octaves. Often regarded as one of the most influential high-tenor
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singers of all time, Kenny was noted for his "bell-like" vocal clarity and impeccable diction. Although he is most famous for his role as lead tenor with the Ink Spots, Kenny also led a successful solo career after disbanding the Ink Spots in 1954.
singers of all time, Kenny was noted for his "bell-like" vocal clarity and impeccable diction. Although he is most famous for his role as lead tenor with the Ink Spots, Kenny also led a successful solo career after disbanding the Ink Spots in 1954.
After winning a Savoy Ballroom talent contest early in 1936, Kenny was heard by Moe Gale who was handling the Ink Spots. Kenny replaced Jerry Daniels and under a new contract with Decca Records the group made several records, but did not really click until 1939 and ‘If I Didn’t Care’. With Kenny’s high tenor vibrato floating over Orville Jones’ talking-bass, the record caught the public’s imagination and went to number 2 in Billboard’s charts.
Among other Top 10 hits were the same year’s ‘My Prayer’, 1941’s ‘Do I Worry’ and ‘I Don’t Want To Set The World On Fire’, 1943’s ‘Don’t Get Around Much Anymore’, and 1949’s ‘Maybe’.
Meanwhile, personnel changes had come with Charlie Fuqua leaving for military service, Ivory Watson departing through
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personal disagreements with Kenny, and Jones’ sudden death in 1944. Kenny’s brother, Herb, was one of the replacements but he too moved on.
By the early 50s, not only had the Ink Spots undergone changes (with Kenny now were now Adriel McDonald, Jimmy Holmes and Ernie Brown), they had also been emulated, in some cases slavishly so, by other groups although Kenny owned the rights to the group’s name.
Meanwhile, personnel changes had come with Charlie Fuqua leaving for military service, Ivory Watson departing through
By the early 50s, not only had the Ink Spots undergone changes (with Kenny now were now Adriel McDonald, Jimmy Holmes and Ernie Brown), they had also been emulated, in some cases slavishly so, by other groups although Kenny owned the rights to the group’s name.
In 1951, he released his first album Precious Memories on the Decca label under the "Faith Series" Kenny's recorded version of the Gospel composition "It Is No Secret" from the album Precious Memories, reached #18 on the US pop charts in 1951.Towards the end of 1953, while on tour in Canada, the Ink Spots split up. From then on, Kenny worked as a solo act. In 1956 he toured the UK as Bill Kenny And His Ink Spots Trio, which featured Kenny singing with instrumental backing from pianist Andy Maize, guitarist Everett Barksdale and bass player Harry Prather.
This album contained songs previously made famous by Bill Kenny and The Ink Spots as well as some standards such as "I Don't Know Why", "It Might As Well Be Spring", and "You'll Never Know".
Throughout the 1950's and 60's Kenny recorded, toured the world and appeared on many popular variety television shows. In 1966 Kenny became the star and host of his own musical variety show The Bill Kenny Show which aired on CBC. During that year he recorded an album for DOT Records entitled Remember Me, containing songs featured on his show.
On July 4, 1969, Kenny was severely burnt when the gas tank of his sports car exploded in an underground parking garage in Vancouver as he lit a cigar while starting the vehicle; third-degree burns to his face and hands contributed to later respiratory problems, stemming from the fumes he inhaled.In 1973 Kenny released his first album in seven years, With Love, for RCA Victor. This album featured songs composed by such songwriters as Irving Berlin, Lennon-McCartney, Kris Kristofferson, and George & Ira Gershwin. All of the proceeds from this album and the proceeds from Kenny's book of Poems “Who Is He” went to the establishment of a local foster home for needy children.
Kenny died from a respiratory illness on March 23, 1978, in New Westminster, Canada. His funeral service was held at the Unitarian Church of Vancouver. Although there were tears from some in the congregation and from the nine eulogists, Mrs. Audrey Kenny asked that the service be kept cheerful. About 200 people – family, friends, and a few fans – were in attendance.
(Edited mainly from Wikipedia & All Music)