(Photo My grandmother Esther) her parents were Russian Jews who immigrated to America. They happily settled in Ohio, had seven children, opened a merchant store, (sold dry goods such as spices, sugar, tea and coffee & other household items)
Coffee Beans :: As a young girl my grandmother would help out in the store. She loved coffee, and would actually chew on the beans. Her friends and family would always brew coffee when she came for a visit. More Family Photos
Ahead of her time :: My grandmother was a great cook. I mean a really great cook. After raising her children she worked as a Chef Manager (Executive) for a successful restaurant that provided meals for hundreds of people. Unlike today, women who worked as Chefs didn't get props because the Culinary Industry was male dominated. continue reading. Continue reading welcome message...
Welcome Friends!
My name is Michelle...(Or Shelley to friends and family)
I want you to know that Ink Spots Arts & Entertainment, is a huge ART project.
Also, the name of my website comes from a music group called, The Ink Spots.
My grandfather Orville "Hoppy" Jones was a member.
This website is a work in progress. Have fun and don't leave without checking out the What's Hot section and Noise Magazine, located on the front page. Thank You So Much for coming.
Now read "Rewind and Be Kind" just below.
Love
Photo ::: Lee and his fiancee, Dana.
They are engaged and will marry some time this year.
Dana is expecting a baby boy in June.
My son, Lee and mom (of Keen, Leeah and Lee, Jr.) Chanele are separated. They are dedicated to raising healthy and happy children. Lee and Chanele may not be marital partners, but they will always be child-raising partners.
Now, a few notes about time spent on the internet. Lee is not a techie or a fan of the internet. He rarely comes online. My son has other interests and spends his time working and socializing with family and friends.
All the blogs and this website are mine. I get no input from family or friends. Ink Spots Entertainment is one big Art project. And it's my baby. Furthermore, nobody does my posting on twitter I can speak for myself.
To the people online who like to stalk, harass and bully, don't visit my blogs or this website. And you're wasting (your) time following me on twitter. Find something positive to do with your time.
Be grateful for the good things happening in your life, be the person
others want to follow.
Look deeper inside yourself, release the negativity you're nurturing.
Have courage, "Rewind and Be Kind."
(just ask me)...
Feel free to check out the contact page on this website.
By the way, spreading rumors is another form of bullying. Go to the source if you have a question.
Take Care. Michelle
The new addition to our family, my son Lee's stepson Keen and
his new baby sister Leeah Marie!
First photo of my beautiful grand-daughter (Leeah Marie Robinson).
She was 6 pounds 5 ounces.
This is a wonderful time filled with lots of joy and happiness for our family.
Photo ::: Lee holding baby Leeah
The Ink Spots Biography From Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
In the words of soul singer Jerry Butler, a solo artist and founding member of the Impressions, “The Ink Spots were the heavyweight champions of quartet singing.” Clyde McPhatter, one-time singer with both the Dominoes and the Drifters, once admitted, “We patterned ourselves after the Ink Spots.” One of the first popular black groups, the Ink Spots can be regarded as forerunners of the doo-wop and rhythm & blues movements that followed. In the wake of their innovative harmonies came a slew of black vocal groups, including the Ravens, the Orioles, the Dominoes and the Drifters.
Inspired by big-name jazz bands and old-time vaudeville acts, the Ink Spots got their start in Indianapolis in the 1920s. The members would improvise harmony vocals, often simulating wind instruments with their voices. In 1939, the group switched styles from jazzy swing to intimate balladry. “If I Didn’t Care,” a million seller, inaugurated a stream of hit ballads in a similar vein, including “My Prayer, “ “We Three,” “Maybe” and “When the Swallows Come Back to Capistrano.” Most of their big hits were sweet ballads with lead vocals by Bill Kenny (who joined in 1936, the year the Ink Spots signed to Decca). continued below
The group maintained its popularity with both black and white audiences into the early 1950s, becoming one of the first acts to break down racial barriers by performing at previously all-white Southern venues. The Ink Spots’ tradition of romantic ballads sung in perfect harmony retains its timeless, old-fashioned appeal to this day.
Charity - Education
Click the fun banner I created to access the UNiCEF Website
If you can, please give to this awesome charity "Kids In Need of Desks"
A Simple Deks Can Make All The Difference!
Every day, millions of children across Africa struggle to learn while sitting on the floor or on the ground. Giving them a desk, where they can write and learn, is the first step toward keeping eager young students in school.
In Malawi, 4 out of 5 students have no desks. The Kids in Need of Desks (K.I.N.D.) campaign, launched by the U.S. Fund for UNICEF and MSNBC's Lawrence O'Donnell, aims to change that by delivering desks to hundreds of schools. K.I.N.D. also provides secondary school scholarships to Malawian girls most in danger of missing out on an education.
Next check out this awesome ARTs camp.
New Artists
If you know an aspiring artist who has a specific talent! Here, at Ink Spots Entertainment we believe it is important to give them the right tools, surroundings & intellectual exposure to express it. Ink Spots Arts & Entertainment, is a place where you will see artists from all walks of life pursuing their dreams. Fortunately, I was raised in a wonderful family. And, to have inspiring mentors and role models. My family gave me the moral support and encouragement to follow my dreams.
Of course I am a bit eccentric so I also believe you need a good mix of structure, nurturing & discipline - being overbearing, pushy to point of bullying doesn't work for me. Your child should be able to have the freedom to make decisions and mistakes for themselves. Again, I was lucky to have mentors and role models who gave me the freedom to follow my dreams on my own terms. Therefore good teaching practices are important. (continued after video)
My grandfather in the photo below was mentor to young artists and was never too busy to offer advice. Following in my grandfather's footsteps I'm here to stress the importance of education and mentors for individuals from diverse, socio-economic backgrounds. I believe in the power of diversity and inclusiveness. Open the doors for all, otherwise their gifts might go unnoticed.
In closing, I want to encourage you to check out the Interlochen Arts Camp. As stated in the NPR below, Jessye Norman, Josh Groban, Norah Jones and Lorin Maazel all spent summers at Interlochen when they were younger.
Book About The Music
Even though my family had no input, this book is worth a read. I spoke to Mr. Goldberg, he's a big fan of the Ink Spots and a nice guy. Click The Book For More Information.
The story of the Ink Spots is a rags-to-riches story beloved in American mythology. The success of the Ink Spots inspired many others to attempt (some merely mimicking) their popular and musical success. They were, without question, the most influential black vocal group of the 1940s, and one of the earliest to sing "sweet ballads," which they elevated to an art form (although an increasingly formulaic one). Goldberg gets behind the streamers and glitter of the Ink Spots and the publicity machines of record labels, and provides the story of the group's creation, its music, and its monumental impact on the course of American music.
More Than Words Can Say uncovers the mythos and origins of the Ink Spots, from the dramatic stories of finding the band name, to the dozens of individuals who still claim to be original members of the group. Goldberg interviews some of the singers, musicians, and arrangers associated with the original Ink Spots who provide invaluable first-hand accounts of the group.
Dow "Quiet Train commerical with Music by the Ink Spots
A superb concept, this Dow (Quiet Train) commercial is a visually stunning ad. The video has a dreamy, whimsical feeling to it, that appeals to me. If you notice the Train is so quiet it does not disturb passengers as they read a book or a family having a party as it passes in urban areas.
I like the "Quiet Train" solution because it will have a positive impact on the environment. Also, you don't have to use your car all the time. When you choose to travel by rail as an alternative, that helps the environment.
Their tag line is pretty cool too! “Solutionism. The new Optimism.”
For more information check out Dow Chemical or their twitter page, @DowChemical.
The song featured is "The Whispering Grass” by The Ink Spots. You can download the complete track on iTunes!
My son Lee, going home on the train...
Now, onto to something random: I don't have any tattoos and have no interest in getting one. However my son, has one tattoo on his forearm.
Take a look. Photo That is my name on his arm. (smiles)
Lee is a Carpenter. Here he is taking a lunch break.
Photo of Chanele (Mother of Keen, Leeah and Lee, Jr.)
Pictures of my son, Lee when he was a baby!
Lee, and Cousin Tina during Christmas time at Macys - We had so much fun
Little League - Lee is a gifted, natural leader and athlete
All right, please continue to read the biography of the Ink Spots. Just Below.
In this photo, The Ink Spots, perform," Note the "Double V" illustration which dominates the cover of the sheet music, and the victory sign displayed by several of the singers. 1939-1945: "Two Wars to Win" The Double V symbol inspired the fight against fascism during World War II and racism at home.
The Pittsburgh Courier aggressively promoted its "Double V" campaign. Historian Patrick Washburn describes the pervasiveness of the "Double V" in his interview for the PBS documentary The Black Press: Soldiers without Swords.
The "Double V" logo designed by the largest black newspaper of World War II,The Pittsburgh Courier, urged two victories for America.
Documentary Film Celebrates the History of America's Black Newspapers.
"THE BLACK PRESS: SOLDIERS WITHOUT SWORDS" NATIONAL BROADCAST ON PBS WAS
DURING BLACK HISTORY MONTH!
The Platters Cover of "If I Didn't Care" (the Ink Spots signature song)
It's beautifully produced and directed and tells a story as only a powerful film can do." - Bill Moyers
SOLDIERS WITHOUT SWORDS is the first documentary to provide an in-depth examination of the history and contributions of African American newspapers. Since the early 1800’s Black newspapers have existed in almost every major city in the U.S. For More Information Go Here
For more information about purchasing the film and CD ROM please contact
California Newsreel at www.newsreel.org
One more family photo..
Another favorite photo of my mom. Yeah, she was a pony girl too.
That pony was a present from her daddy.
Mom, the first born child was named after her dad, Orville Jones.
Lucky me, I got to ride horses because there was a stable right across street
from my school.
