Singer. Earl "Speedoo" Carroll was the lead singer of the 1950s doo-wop group, The Cadillacs, which he co-founded. Their hits included "Gloria", "You Are", "Wishing Well", "My Girlfriend", "Peek-a-Boo", a jive-inspired version of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" and "Speedo" which was titled after Carroll's nickname. In 1959, The Cadillacs appeared in the movie "Go Johnny Go," where they performed "Please Mr. Johnson" and "Jay Walker". In 1961, he joined a rival group, The Coasters, and in 1966 they signed with Columbia Records and had a minor chart entry with "Love Potion No. 9," a song that Leiber and Stoller had written for the Coasters but instead gave to The Clovers in 1959. He performed with them for 20 years before reuniting with the Cadillacs for a car commercial. Carroll, who had been in a nursing home, died from a stroke brought on by diabetes. His wife Carol died in 2010; he is survived by a son, Earl Carroll Jr., a daughter, Kimmie, and three grandchildren.
Singer. Earl "Speedoo" Carroll was the lead singer of the 1950s doo-wop group, The Cadillacs, which he co-founded. Their hits included "Gloria", "You Are", "Wishing Well", "My Girlfriend", "Peek-a-Boo", a jive-inspired version of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" and "Speedo" which was titled after Carroll's nickname. In 1959, The Cadillacs appeared in the movie "Go Johnny Go," where they performed "Please Mr. Johnson" and "Jay Walker". In 1961, he joined a rival group, The Coasters, and in 1966 they signed with Columbia Records and had a minor chart entry with "Love Potion No. 9," a song that Leiber and Stoller had written for the Coasters but instead gave to The Clovers in 1959. He performed with them for 20 years before reuniting with the Cadillacs for a car commercial. Carroll, who had been in a nursing home, died from a stroke brought on by diabetes. His wife Carol died in 2010; he is survived by a son, Earl Carroll Jr., a daughter, Kimmie, and three grandchildren.
Bio by: Louis du Mort
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