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The Spaniels, an American R&B and doo-wop group from Gary, Indiana, formed in late 1952 at Roosevelt High School as Pookie Hudson & The Hudsonaires. The original lineup included Thornton James "Pookie" Hudson, Ernest Warren, Willie C. Jackson, Opal Courtney Jr., and Gerald Gregory. They changed their name to The Spaniels and signed with Vee-Jay Records in April 1953. Their initial release, "Baby It's You", reached Number 10 on Billboard’s R&B chart in September 1953. In early 1954, "Goodnite Sweetheart Goodnite" hit Number 24 on Variety’s pop chart and rose to Number 5 on Billboard’s R&B chart. The group played regularly at venues like the Apollo and The Regal, becoming Vee-Jay's top-selling vocal act. They disbanded when the label went bankrupt in 1966 but reformed in 1969. Their music gained renewed exposure through its inclusion in films such as American Graffiti and Three Men and a Baby.
