The Cadillacs an American doo-wop group from Harlem, New York were formed i… Read Full Bio ↴The Cadillacs an American doo-wop group from Harlem, New York were formed in 1953 and are noted for their 1955 hit "Speedoo".
The group came together as The Carnations, with lead vocalist Earl "Speedo" Carroll (November 2, 1937 β 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.
The group came together as The Carnations, with lead vocalist Earl "Speedo" Carroll (November 2, 1937 β 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.
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The Cadillacs Lyrics
We have lyrics for these tracks by The Cadillacs:
Ain't You Gonna (Campbell, Deery, Noyes, Nugent, Santoriello) Well, you migh…
Buzz Buzz Buzz Well, buzz, buzz, buzz goes the bumble bee Tweele, deedle, d…
Crying In The Chapel I'll never let you see The way my broken heart is…
Gitana Una vez mΓ‘s Para todo este publico Con ustedes Los fabulosos…
Gloria Gloria, Gloria It's not Marie Gloria, it's not Sherie Gloria…
I Cover The Waterfront I cover the waterfront, I'm watching the sea,, Will the on…
I Want to Know I don't know where to go I don't know where to…
I'm In Love (Campbell, Deery, Hackford, Noyes, Nugent, Santoriello) No, …
In The Chapel In The Moonlight How I'd love to hear the organ In the chapel in…
My Girlfriend I'm asking you, bom bom bom bom bom Please be my…
Peek a Boo Peek-A-Boo 2: 05 Trk 14 (Hammer) The Cadillacs Earl 'Speedy'…
Peek-A-Boo (Hammer) The Cadillacs Earl 'Speedy' Carroll - lead tenor Ch…
Please Mr Johnson (piano & instrumental) Our pockets are empty We are broke W…
rudolph While walking down the road Christmas morning I saw a reinde…
Speedo Well, now, they often call me Speedo But my real…
Speedoo Bom, bom, bom, Bom, bom, bom, Bom, bom, bom, bom. Now they …
Sugar Sugar Here come a girl Walkin' down the street Boy, she is sweet F…
Sugar-Sugar Here come a girl Walkin' down the street Boy, she is sweet…
Tell Me Today If you love me the way our friends say Dont tell…
That's Why I was drinkin' whiskey, you was drinkin' red Drinkin' like t…
Why Yo a vos no te creo nada ΒΏCΓ³mo vos vas a…
Why Why Yo a vos no te creo nada CΓ³mo vos vas a…
Window Lady Window, Window, Window, Window Lady Window, Window, Window, …
Woe Is Me Woe woe woe woe woe woe Yea yea yea Yea yea…
You Are Lα»i mαΊΉ ru con ΔαΊΏn nhα»―ng khu vΖ°α»n Ru con trΖ°a…
Zoom Bom, be doo Be doo be doo be (Bow wow) x3 Wow wow wah-wow We…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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@elsalopez8164
Love Earl Carroll and the Cadillacs!! I love everything they ever recorded!! Thanks Mr. Doo Wopβ€οΈπΆβ€οΈ
@lawrencedorfman5543
MRDOOWOP another fabulous classic GROUP,LEAD and song TYVM ONCE again
@fernando-oldiesdoowoprockn2585
Beautiful song.π
@angied8919
Amazing group and song. Doo wop legends who also sang beautiful ballads
@dwightbernheimer331
NOT to be confused with The Carnations out of Bridgeport, Connecticut... Long Tall Girl... Thanks for posting.
@larryvanavery9317
Great sound...tyvm
@johnthrussell1377
Great record ta
@angied8919
Fabulous, one of my faves thx Mr Doowop π π
@rtoledo1111
Glad you enjoyed it
@jamesamato2004
carelessly this the flip side both from lp. cuts both great