NEW ORLEANS— Hayward “Chuck” Carbo, whose ultra-smooth baritone fronted the 1950s quintet the Spiders that made the world aware of New Orleans rhythm & blues, died Friday. He was 82.

Charbonnet-Labat Funeral Home said he died after a long illness. Singer Aaron Neville, a longtime friend, says Carbo and his brother Leonard “Chick” Carbo were part of the premier New Orleans group in their day.

A young Mac “Dr. John” Rebennack produced several 1960s singles by Carbo and considered him an immense, if under-appreciated, talent.

Both sides of their 1954 debut for Imperial Records, “I Didn’t Want to Do It” and “You’re the One,” cracked the Top 10 of the national rhythm and blues charts.