The Spaniels
- Soundtrack
Thel Spaniels was a vocal group that formed at Roosevelt High School in
Gary, IN, in 1952. Originally called Pookie Hudson & The Hudsonaires,
they soon changed their name to The Spaniels. After graduating high
school, the group signed with Vee-Jay Records. Their first record,
"Baby It's You", reached #10 on Billboard's R&B chart, but their next
song was the one they're remembered for: 1954's "Goodnite Sweetheart
Goodnite", which rose to #5 on the R&B charts. Although the group went
through several personnel changes, it stayed with Vee-Jay Records until
that label folded in 1966. In 1969 the group reconstituted itself and
recorded some minor hits. They played regularly at Harlem's
world-famous Apollo Theatre, and "Goodnite Sweetheart" appeared on the
soundtrack of several hit films. For a while there were two Spaniels
groups, one in Washington, DC, and the other based in the group's
original hometown of Gary.
