The last couple of years have not been good ones for fans of Doo Wop music. We’ve lost some of its founding fathers in recent years. Today, we lost another with the passing of Thornton James “Pookie” Hudson of the Spaniels. Pookie and the group were the first artist to be recorded and released on the then new Vee-Jay label back in 1953 with “Baby It’s You”. Their classic “Goodnite Sweetheart, Goodnite” followed a few months later. The group formed in Gary, Indiana in 1952. Other Spaniels classic include, “You Gave Me Peace Of Mind”, “People Will Say We’re In Love”, “You Painted Pictures”, “Everybody’s Laughing” and their up-tempo rendition of “Stormy Weather”.

I had a great honor of interviewing Pookie for two hours on July 14, 2006 at the XM studios in Washington, DC. Pookie lived just north of DC. He was a tall man and had an incredible presence. He had been sick with cancer for a long time, but when I met him, he had beaten the horrible disease. He looked strong and was determined to keep on singing and performing. A few months ago, the cancer came back and attacked his liver. We never heard from Pookie again. I know I speak for all the Night Prowlers when I say that Pookie Hudson will be greatly missed, but his music, memory and legend will live on, as long as there’s a Night Prowl Show.

Goodnite, Pookie, Goodnite!

-MTC