Opal Courtney Jr, who died on 18 September, 2008, aged 71, was a tenor singer and an original member of the pioneering doo-wop outfit The Spaniels.

The Spaniels are notable primarily because they were the first vocal group of their genre to have a lead singer, with James 'Pookie' Hudson singing the lyrics and the other five members backing him up with harmonies and vocal melodies.

The arrangement soon became the standard for similar acts thanks to their 1954 hit Goodnite, Sweetheart, Goodnite, which featured a catchy vocal bassline and velvety harmonies. The song was popularised soon after by The McGuire Sisters and was featured in several film soundtracks and the Sha Na Na television series.

Opal Courtney Jr was born on 11 November, 1936, and joined The Spaniels while at school in Gary, Indiana. Sensing his band were destined for the big time, he abandoned his education with just two weeks to go. They were among the first artists to sign with legendary black music label Vee Jay Records and had their first hit on the R&B charts with Baby, It's You in 1953.

The Spaniels were one of many groups to change the shape of black music and bring it to the attention of white audiences during the 1950s. In 1959 they were part of the nationwide tour on which Buddy Holly , Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper lost their lives in a tragic plane crash.

There were numerous line-up changes in the group's history and Mr Courtney left shortly after Goodnite, Sweetheart, Goodnite because he was frustrated the group weren't reaping the financial rewards he felt they deserved. He returned to high school then had a career with the US Air Force.

In 1991 The Spaniels received a Pioneer Award from the Rhythm and Blues Foundation in Washington DC and two years later Mr Courtney was part of a reunion show line-up. 'Pookie' Hudson died in January 2007.

Wilton Crump, The Spaniels' voice coach, paid tribute to Mr Courtney, saying: "His voice always cut through; it was very clear."