Sanford and Son Was Even More Interesting Behind The Scenes

Redd Foxx Loved the Ink Spots

Throughout the show, Redd Foxx’s character Fred Sanford often sang songs by The Ink Spots, a rhythm and blues group that gained international fame in the 1930s and 1940s. This character trait was inspired by Foxx’s own love of the group.

However, the royalties for songs by The Ink Spots were astronomical, and NBC refused to pay the cost. Instead, Redd Foxx paid for them out of his own pocket. Fred Sanford’s favorite song to sing on the show seemed to be “If I Didn’t Care” which was recorded by The Ink Spots and featured Bill Kenny. The song was released in 1939.

What’s in a Name?

Several characters in Sanford and Son were named after real life people. Fred Sanford was named after Redd Foxx’s brother, who died five years before the show premiered. Giving his character his brother’s name was a touching way for Foxx to pay tribute.

Lamont Sanford also got his name form someone in Foxx’s life—Lamont Ousley—one of the two other teenagers who made up a washtub band Foxx formed after dropping out of high school. The character Grady Wilson, played by Whitman Mayo, was even named after another actor on the show, Demond Wilson. Wilson’s full name is actually Grady Demond Wilson.