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.
You Are
The Cadillacs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ru con trưa nắng í a
Trong mộng cười ngon
Ru mộng con thơm
Lời mẹ ru con nghe ra nỗi niềm
Ru con nghiêng nghiêng nằm
Con ngủ giấc tròn cho mẹ ngồi trông
Thuở mẹ ru mẹ ru con ngủ
Con ngủ trên mây con ngủ trên mây
Tiếng khóc ban đầu
Ban đầu còn đau còn đau còn đau
Lời mẹ ru đêm vắng ngón tay hồng
Ru con khôn lớn í a
Con Rồng Rồng Tiên
Con ngủ cho yên
Một đời ru con nên mắt ưu phiền
Đôi khi cũng ưu phiền
Con ngủ giấc hiền
Mưa nhỏ ngoài đêm
Lời mẹ ru như tiếng hát trên trời
Ru con ru mãi í a
Nên người mẹ vui
Ru bạc tóc thôi
Đời mẹ ru con mây kia cũng buồn
Nên mây xa đường trần
Con ngủ giấc hồng cho mẹ tròn lưng
Thuở mẹ ru mẹ ru con ngủ
Con ngủ trên mây con ngủ trên mây
Tiếng khóc ban đầu
Ban đầu còn đau còn đau còn đau
Rồi một mai con đã lớn khôn rồi
Con thôi thơ ấu í a
Mẹ rời thật mau
Mẹ rời chiêm bao
Đời mẹ ru con bao lâu mỏi mòn
Nên lâu cũng mỏi mòn
Bây giờ mẹ nằm
Lá đổ ngoài sân
Lá đổ ngoài sân
Lá đổ ngoài sân
Để ru mẹ ngủ
The song "Lời Mẹ Ru Con" by The Cadillacs is a Vietnamese lullaby that tells the story of a mother singing to her child. The mother sings about the peacefulness of the garden and the warmth of the sun, and how her child laughs sweetly in their dreams. She also mentions her own worries and anxieties that she hopes her child will not experience. The mother wishes for her child to have a peaceful life, free from worries and pain, and hopes that her lullaby will be a comfort to them throughout their life.
The lyrics of this song convey a sense of maternal love and protection, with the mother singing about all the things she hopes for her child's future. She sings about soothing away any pain or worry, and creating a safe and peaceful space for her child to grow up in. The song also carries a nostalgic undertone as the mother reflects on the past, and how quickly time has passed.
Overall, "Lời Mẹ Ru Con" is a beautiful and emotional song that captures the essence of a mother's love for her child. It speaks to the universal experience of nurturing and caring for a loved one, and the desire to create a better future for the next generation.
Line by Line Meaning
Lời mẹ ru con đến những khu vườn
Mother's lullaby brings me to peaceful gardens
Ru con trưa nắng í a
Rocking me to sleep under the bright sunshine
Trong mộng cười ngon
I dream of pleasant laughter
Ru mộng con thơm
The lullaby fills my dreams with sweet aroma
Lời mẹ ru con nghe ra nỗi niềm
I can feel Mother's emotions in her lullaby
Ru con nghiêng nghiêng nằm
I lay in a comfortable position as I am lulled to sleep
Con ngủ giấc tròn cho mẹ ngồi trông
I sleep soundly while my mother watches over me
Thuở mẹ ru mẹ ru con ngủ
During the period of soothing lullabies
Con ngủ trên mây con ngủ trên mây
I sleep on clouds, I sleep on clouds
Tiếng khóc ban đầu, Ban đầu còn đau còn đau còn đau
At first, my cries were painful and incessant
Lời mẹ ru đêm vắng ngón tay hồng
Mother's lullaby is like a serene melody on a quiet night
Ru con khôn lớn í a
Rocking me to sleep as I grow up
Con Rồng Rồng Tiên, Con ngủ cho yên
I dream of dragons and fairies, and sleep peacefully
Một đời ru con nên mắt ưu phiền
A lifetime of lullabies can bring worry to one's eyes
Đôi khi cũng ưu phiền
There are times to worry and times to let go
Con ngủ giấc hiền
I sleep with a peaceful mind
Mưa nhỏ ngoài đêm
The gentle rain outside
Lời mẹ ru như tiếng hát trên trời
Mother's lullaby is like a heavenly song
Ru con ru mãi í a
Rocking me to sleep endlessly
Nên người mẹ vui
Mother is happy
Ru bạc tóc thôi
Rocking her white hair to sleep
Đời mẹ ru con mây kia cũng buồn
Mother's life is full of sadness as well
Nên mây xa đường trần
She wanders afar from worldly paths
Con ngủ giấc hồng cho mẹ tròn lưng
I sleep peacefully while Mother's back is rounded with age
Rồi một mai con đã lớn khôn rồi
One day I have grown up and become an adult
Con thôi thơ ấu í a
I leave behind childhood
Mẹ rời thật mau
Mother leaves quickly
Mẹ rời chiêm bao
Mother departs into the world of dreams
Đời mẹ ru con bao lâu mỏi mòn
Mother's life is full of weariness because of lullabies
Nên lâu cũng mỏi mòn
And eventually she also becomes weary
Bây giờ mẹ nằm
Now mother is lying down
Lá đổ ngoài sân
Leaves fall outside
Để ru mẹ ngủ
So she can sleep peacefully
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@anthonyboone6277
I was fifteen when I discovered Doo wop in 1976. I can't listen to this song without a lump in my throat. There's a girl out there, she knows who she is, this is for you...Speedo you are soooo missed. Thank you for saying what I couldn't say to her in 1976.
@donniegaskill1836
Even tho my middle teens were 1965, and the British Invasion coming in, I still go back and listen to the DooWops of the 50's. It tends to make me remember when my dad and mom would play the 45's and dance in the kitchen and us kids would be in the living room just giggling and thinking it was so funny!!! How I wish to be that 5 and 6 yrs old again........
@bettybourne1085
So beautiful and touching. How love should be
@barbeden
1957-what a year
@judy-xl1ev
BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!!
@bettybourne1085
A song that’s unforgettable. When I hear it I’m back in high school dancing in the gym. Beautiful. Speedo had a great voice
@nijolesopher7877
SPEECHLESS BEAUTIFUL!! 😪😘💋
@tomjones8516
"You Are," Doo Wop, the greatest sounding music to ones ear.
@harvejoel1911
When I sing, I think I sound like this, then I wake up! Earl Carroll,AKA Speedo, among the greatest Ballad singers of the era, This only one example, so, so, many others!
@philcorey3200
Fabulous one their best