The Cadillacs were great, both before and after Earl Carroll sang one of the most recognizable lines in modern music: “Well now they often call me Speedoo, but my real name is Mr. Earl.”
The group’s story is told in loving detail at DooWop Nation. (Editor’s Note: Unfortunately, this no long seems to be posted). It‘s a tremendously detailed history and one that even on the Web looks like it was banged out on a manual typewriter on a kitchen table in a cramped apartment by someone with a lot of great memories.
Here is how it starts. I strongly recommend giving the site itself a look:
The story of the Cadillacs begins on the street corners of Harlem in New York City during the spring of 1953. As usual the guys built a reputation in the neighborhood for the ability to put across a tune. At that time the name of the group was The Carnations, and the original members of the quartet were Earl Carroll, Bobby Phillips, Lavern Drake, and Gus Willingham. From the halls of PS 140 on 140th Street, and the stage of St. Mark’s Church, the “name” status of the young group began to spread.
The journey ends after 3,800 words. I write for a living and, believe me, you really have to like something to write 3,800 words about it. And you have to know your stuff.
Here are Down the Road, Please Mr. Johnson, Jaywalker and a later apparence during which they sang Speedoo, Gloria, Peek-A-Boo and The Girl I Love.
