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 great detail by Michael Jack Kirby at The Way Back Attack:
Here is how it starts. I strongly recommend giving the site itself a look:
- The quintet called The Cadillacs had more members during its existence than just about any vocal group from rock’s early years, the exception being The Drifters, who may hold a record with at least four dozen vocalists possessing (in some cases transitory) Drifters credentials. But it doesn’t really matter how many there were, as just one man’s contribution was crucial to the admittedly off-and-on success of said Cadillacs. He was Earl Carroll, identified by this famous lyric: ‘They often call me Speedoo but my real name is Mister Earl!’
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.
