Ivory "Deek" Watson was born on July 18, 1909, in Mounds, Illinois, and passed away on November 4, 1969, in Washington, D.C. He was a prominent tenor, baritone, and sometimes "talking bass" singer, as well as a guitar and tipple player, composer, and actor. Watson was an original member of The Ink Spots, a group that significantly influenced the development of doo-wop and rhythm-and-blues vocal styles.

Watson's musical journey began in his late teens with a street corner band called the "Percolating Puppies" in Indianapolis around 1928. He later joined the "Four Riff Brothers" in 1932, performing on radio shows in Cincinnati. In 1933, Watson formed a trio with Jerry and Charlie, known as "King, Jack and Jester," which performed regularly on Cincinnati radio stations.

In July 1934, Watson and his group, now called "The 4 Ink Spots," performed at the Apollo Theater in New York and subsequently toured the UK with Jack Hylton's Orchestra. The Ink Spots gained international fame, known for their unique musical style that predated rhythm and blues and rock and roll. Watson was instrumental in shaping the Ink Spots' style, contributing his distinctive jivey parts and showmanship.

Despite his contributions, Watson's tenure with the Ink Spots was marked by disagreements, particularly with lead singer Bill Kenny. He left the group in 1944 and formed The Brown Dots, which later recorded several notable tracks, including "Sentimental Reasons." Watson continued to perform and record with various iterations of his groups until the early 1950s.

Deek Watson's legacy endures through his pioneering work with The Ink Spots, who were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989, and his influence on subsequent generations of vocal groups.