The Spaniels - Live in Concert - 1992

In the fall of 1992, Pookie Hudson and the Spaniels performed at the Courage To Come Back organization’s concert event in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This 55-minute film, from the archives of musical director and guitarist Steve “Weet” Larcovic, features the group delivering a 14-song set of hits and collector’s favorites, all recorded for Vee Jay Records between 1953 and 1960.
Four of the five original Spaniels reformed the Gary, Indiana-based group after being honored by the Rhythm and Blues Foundation in 1991. James “Pookie” Hudson, Opal Courtney, Jr., Willie C. Jackson and Gerald Gregory (original first tenor Ernest Warren, a church minister, declined) were joined by Billy Shelton, a fellow Roosevelt High School graduate who sang with Hudson in a precursor group, the Three Bees, and his son, Teddy Shelton, who served as the Spaniels’ guitarist and musical director. The Spaniels drew rave reviews, traveled throughout the United States and England, and returned to the recording studio.
At the time of this performance, original bass singer Gerald Gregory, who battled a lifelong addiction to alcohol, was ill and unable to travel and so guitarist Teddy Shelton took his place in the lineup.
The quintet performed a mix of material as done by the three different Spaniels lineups, starting with their debut hit, “Baby, It’s You”, and the standards “Stormy Weather” and “A Lovely Way To Spend An Evening”. Teddy Shelton then leads “Zing Went The Strings of My Heart” and “Heart and Soul”, filling in for Gerald. The next two selections, “Crazee Baby” and “These Three Words”, were originally recorded by Hudson and Gregory with the second Spaniels group, Donald Porter, Carl Rainge, and James Cochran. The first live performance in nearly 40 years of “The Bells Ring Out” follows. The 1960 hit “I Know”, the 1956 classic “You Gave Me Peace of Mind”, another collector’s favorite, “Do-Wah”, and an acappella version of “Danny Boy” lead into the Spaniels’ signature hit, “Goodnite, Sweetheart, Goodnite”. Returning for an encore, Willie C. Jackson steps up to deliver his original lead on “Play It Cool”.
Backing the Spaniels here are the P.O.R.C.C. All-Stars led by Steve “Weet” Larcovic (guitar) with John Sabre (saxophones), Steve Kacin (bass), Fred Delu (keyboards) and Terry Bates (drums). Copying, reuploading, distributing, or selling in whole or in part is prohibited.

[@deangarretson8235]

The original legends of them all!

[@Steve52344]

Amen.

[@thomasprice9185]

I'm totally blown away to see this group that I grew up loving and never saw them perform,These groups really started it all trust and believe it was not easy or pleasant at times so I do appreciate them and so sad that we really don't have archives in our communities to share with our young people they propably would be different if we did.

[@ioxxd90]

my fav do wop group

[@Joe_pera_fan]

Can't wait to hear Mr. Bounce❤❤❤

[@DOOWOPTRB]

Unfortunately Gerald is NOT with the group in this performance. From mid-1992 until the spring of 1993, Gerald was away from the group and dealing with alcohol-related illnesses. Teddy Shelton does an admirable job but no one can replace Bounce. Still it is an enjoyable performance.

[@Joe_pera_fan]

Good fill-in for Mr. Bounce😊