'Pookie' Hudson, of the Spaniels

WASHINGTON - Thornton James "Pookie" Hudson, lead singer of the Spaniels doo-wop group best known for the 1954 hit "Goodnight, Sweetheart, Goodnight," has died. He was 72.

Hudson died Tuesday of complications from thymus cancer, his publicist, Bill Carpenter, said.

Hudson continued performing into last fall when he learned that his cancer had returned after a remission. His last recordings were done in October for a CD that will be released in the fall.

The Spaniels' signature song, "Goodnight, Sweetheart, Goodnight" was a million-selling Top 5 R&B hit in 1954. The McGuire Sisters rushed out a version of the song that sold even more copies than the Spaniels'. At the time, only black radio stations played Hudson's version, according to Carpenter. *

Associated Press