The group came together as The Carnations, with lead vocalist Earl "Speedo" Carroll (November 2, 1937 – November 25, 2012), Bobby Phillips, Lavern Drake (bass vocalist), and Gus Willingham. As the group moved into the recording studios, James "Poppa" Clark was added as a fifth member, and the name "The Cadillacs" was given to them. The group's first recording came in July 1954, with Josie Records #765, featuring Gloria and Wonder Why.
In 1955, Willingham and Clark left the group and were replaced by Earl Wade and Charles Brooks. At this time, the group first began to experiment with choreography, suggested by manager Esther Navarro. Later that year came the group's biggest hit, "Speedoo", Carroll's nickname. Lavern Drake left the group in 1956 and was replaced by J. R. Bailey.
In 1957, differences in opinion caused the group to split. One group was initially known as The Four Cadillacs, with current bass J. R. Bailey, former bass Lavern Drake, and new members Roland Martinez and Bobby Spencer. The previous year, Bobby Spencer had written the "My Boy Lollipop" pop song shuffle for Barbie Gaye, which was played by Alan Freed and secured Barbie Gaye a spot in his 1956 Christmas Show opening for Little Richard. In 1964, an Ernest Ranglin produced ska version of the song became a multi-million seller for Jamaican teenager Millie Small and made producer Chris Blackwell rich, leading to further development of his Island Records label.
The other four current members - Carroll, Wade, Brooks, and Phillips - continued recording separately, later as Earl Carroll and the Cadillacs. Bailey's group also included former group saxophonist Jesse "Tex" Powell, and recorded in early 1958 as Jesse Powell and the Caddys. Both groups recorded simultaneously on Josie Records. Later in 1958, the groups combined back into one. Carroll's backup vocalists, Wade, Brooks, and Phillips, all decided to retire and Carroll joined Bailey, Drake, Martinez and Spencer. Carroll's lead spot had been given to Spencer and Bailey, and he left shortly thereafter, creating a new group, Speedo and the Pearls, which recorded briefly in 1959. In 1959, the Cadillacs are also featured in the movie Go Johnny, Go
The group split and re-formed in 1960, with Carroll, Martinez, Kirk Davis, and bass Ronnie Bright. Later the group was Carroll, Martinez, the returning Bobby Spencer, Milton Love, and Reggie Barnes. Martinez, Love and Barnes were all members of The Solitares at one time.
In 1961, the group began to resemble The Coasters in their music. The lineup shifted again, now with Carroll, Martinez, Curtis Williams, Ray Brewster, and Irving Lee Gail. Carroll was out by 1963 to enter the group they'd been emulating, The Coasters, with Carl Gardner, Billy Guy, and former Cadillac Ronnie Bright. 1963 also ended the group's run on Josie Records.
Brewster and Martinez brought in former members Bobby Spencer and J. R. Bailey and continued to record through 1963. The group split, with Bailey joining the Jive Five. Brewster brought in former Cadillac/Solitare Milton Love with Solitares Bobby Baylor and Fred Barksdale. This group recorded briefly in 1964. Spencer became lead vocalist, with Joey Levine (Ohio Express, Reunion) as backing vocalist, for Crazy Elephant, a bubblegum music group, in 1969.
The Cadillacs were back in 1970 with J. R. Bailey, Bobby Spencer, original member Bobby Phillips (who had retired from Speedo's group during the split), and new member Leroy Binns, of The Charts. Steven Brown later replaced Phillips. Teddy Pendergrass came on as the groups drummer. The group split into the mid-1970s and some members joined Herold Melvin and the Bluenotes, including Teddy Pendergrass as drummer. In 1979 Earl Carroll, Earl Wade, Bobby Phillips, and Steven Brown came together for a Subaru commercial.
Carroll had remained with the Coasters during this time, and left in the early 1990s to permanently re-form the Cadillacs with Phillips, Brown, Gary K. Lewis, and musical director Eddie Jones. Brown left in 2003. Phillips died in March 2011.
The Cadillacs were inducted into The Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2004.
Crying In The Chapel
The Cadillacs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The way my broken heart is hurting me
I've got my pride and I know how to hide
All the sorrow and pain
I'll do my crying in the rain
If I wait for cloudy skies
You won't know the rain from the tears in my eyes
So though the heartaches remain
I'll do my crying in the rain
Raindrops falling from heaven
Will never wash away my misery
But since we're not together
I'll wait for stormy weather
To hide these tears I hope you'll never see
Someday when my crying's done
I'm gonna wear a smile and walk in the sun
I may be a fool
But till then, darling, you'll never see me complain
I'll do my crying in the rain
I'll do my crying in the rain
I'll do my crying in the rain
I'll do my crying in the rain
The Cadillacs' "Crying In The Chapel" tells a story of heartbreak and pride in the aftermath of a love lost. The singer sings about how they will never let their former lover know the depth of their sadness; they will hide it behind a facade of strength and happiness. The rain becomes a symbol for the tears the singer refuses to shed in front of their ex. Instead, they will cry alone in the rain, where the drops can be mistaken for natural weather instead of a broken heart.
The lyrics also suggest a sense of resilience and hope. The singer acknowledges that the pain will not go away easily, but they will wait for the moment when they can come out of the rain and into the sunlight with a smile on their face. The last lines suggest a sense of determination and stubbornness; the singer may be a fool, but they will not complain until they can find a reason to smile again.
Overall, "Crying In The Chapel" is a poignant and relatable portrayal of heartbreak and hope, and the ways in which we try to hold on to our dignity and pride in times of pain.
Line by Line Meaning
I'll never let you see
I will hide my emotions from you
The way my broken heart is hurting me
I am in pain due to a broken heart
I've got my pride and I know how to hide
I am proud and can conceal my feelings
All the sorrow and pain
I am experiencing sadness and distress
I'll do my crying in the rain
I will express my emotions privately
If I wait for cloudy skies
I will not reveal my feelings openly
You won't know the rain from the tears in my eyes
You will not be able to differentiate between my crying and the rain
You'll never know that I still love you
You will never find out that I still have feelings for you
So though the heartaches remain
Although I am in pain
I'll do my crying in the rain
I will keep my emotions private
Raindrops falling from heaven
Rain will not wash away my pain
Will never wash away my misery
Rain cannot heal my pain
But since we're not together
Since we are not together anymore
I'll wait for stormy weather
I will wait for a time to express my emotions
To hide these tears I hope you'll never see
To conceal my emotions from you
Someday when my crying's done
Eventually, I will overcome my sadness
I'm gonna wear a smile and walk in the sun
I will be happy and move on
I may be a fool
I might be seen as foolish for hiding my emotions
But till then, darling, you'll never see me complain
Until then, I will not express my sadness to you
I'll do my crying in the rain
I will keep my emotions private
I'll do my crying in the rain
I will keep my emotions private
I'll do my crying in the rain
I will keep my emotions private
I'll do my crying in the rain
I will keep my emotions private
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Carole King, Howard Greenfield
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@littlerockguy
This is the definitive version I always go back to to listen to this song. So beautiful and therapeutic. Just listening to the song will give you brief peace of mind 😌
@stephenmanning9088
YES MAN DA LATE
@lboogy85
I love this version because while others sing the same words, you can feel the Lord on this.
@andrewjohnson2465
Amen!
@Keranu
Doowop singers back then had otherworldly vocals. I don't know how such talent has mostly been long forgotten.
@doreenachtymichuk7909
ok, i'm generations too young to truly appreciate this, but I am a classically trained musician, and I loved this piece. it wasn't rushed, the vocals were smooth and almost ... hushed. absolutely beautiful. like a lullaby .
@ntnrocket1
Does that mean you are also generations too young to appreciate Mozart??? Just wondering.
@hultonclint
Thanks for your Classically Trained Seal of Approval.
@johnharr9707
Doreen Achtymichuk , it's absolutely right on and beautiful!!!
@ihunterx59
So you are Classically trained to appreciate it while i musically uneducated find the doo wop era great ?