Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

CADILLACS, The

Doo-wop vocal group formed in NYC in 1953. Original lineup: Earl 'Speedo' Carroll (b 2 November 1937; d 25 November 2012, Manhattan), Robert Phillips (b 1935, d 2011), Laverne Drake (b 1938), Gus Willingham (b 1937). They were formed as the Carnations, and were signed '54 by manager/songwriter Esther Navarro; they changed their name, added Papa Clark (b 1937), cut four songs leased to Jubilee subsidiary label Josie; Willingham and Clark left, replaced by Charles Brooks and Earl Wade. They were known for energy and flamboyance; credited with influencing onstage choreography cf. later Motown acts. They had pop chart glory with 'Speedoo' (top 20 '56, no. 3 R&B) and 'Peek-A-Boo' (top 30 '59, no. 20 R&B). 'Speedo' was written by Navarro about lead singer Carroll, and was later wonderfully covered by Ry Cooder ('Well, my friends call me Speedoo/ but my real name is Mister Earl'). Carroll left '59 to join the Coasters; the Cadillacs continued, had R&B no. 30 'What You Bet' '61. Four-CD set with book The Complete Josie Sessions on Bear Family. Their drummer was Teddy Pendergrass when they toured with Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes in the late 1960s.

Earl Carroll had a long happy career as a school custodian, and when the kids found out who he was, he was famous all over again.