THE INK SPOTS - AUTOGRAPHED INSCRIBED PHOTOGRAPH CO-SIGNED BY: THE INKSPOTS (RAY LOPER), THE INKSPOTS (MATT McKINNEY), THE INK SPOTS (CHARLES WARD) - HFSID 294296

THE INKSPOTS: CHARLES WARD, MATT McKINNEY and RAY LOPER
Composite photo signed by three members of the group and inscribed by Warde
Composite Photograph inscribed and signed: "To Tom/Charles/Ward", "Ray Looper/Ink Spots", "Matt McKinney". B/w, 8½x11.The Ink Spots, formed in the early 1930s, popular with white as well as black audiences, were initially successful in live performance, and broke through later in the decade with a string of now classic hits, including "If I Didn't Care," "I Don't Want to Set the World on Fire," and "My Prayer." They greatly influenced many music genres, including rhythm and blues, soul, doo-wop and rock and roll. World War II and personal differences led to the fragmentation of the original group, and soon there were many competing groups singing in similar styles and all claiming the name InkSpots. Web sites devoted to the Ink Spots have devised "family trees" to try to trace the lineage of these often inter-related groups. CHARLES WARD's Inkspots were among the most popular of these successor groups, active from the 1950s. Ward was lead tenor with the Ink Spots, and played piano with other groups. MATT McKINNEY, long associated with Ward's Ink Spots but also performing with the Ink Spots of Adriel McDonald and Bob Williams, was a bass vocalist and guitarist. RAY LOPER had only a brief association with the Ink Spots, but sang with other similar groups, notably the Clovers and the 5 Keys. Toned and worn at edges. Corners creased and worn. Otherwise, fine condition.