Earl Carroll (vocalist)
| Earl Carroll | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Speedoo |
| Born |
November 2, 1937 New York, U.S. |
| Died |
November 25, 2012 (aged 75) New York, U.S. |
| Genres | Doo-wop |
| Occupation(s) | Vocalist |
| Years active | 1950s–2000s |
| Associated acts |
The Cadillacs The Coasters |
Earl "Speedo" Carroll (November 2, 1937 – November 25, 2012) was the lead vocalist for the doo-wop group The Cadillacs.[1] The group's biggest hit was "Speedoo", Carroll's subsequent nickname. It was released in 1955. He joined The Coasters in 1961, leaving the group in the early 1990s to permanently reform The Cadillacs.
In the 1990s, a newspaper reported that Carroll had worked as a custodian at PS 87, a New York elementary school, where he was a beloved figure whom the children called "Speedo". Earl was chosen to be the subject of a children's book, That's Our Custodian, by Ann Morris (Brookfield, Connecticut: Millbrook Press). The publicity helped him to revive his career. He became a mainstay of the PBS series honoring doo wop, hosted by Jerry Butler.
Carroll died in a nursing home in New York at the age of 75, following a stroke. He also had diabetes.[2][3]
References
- ↑ "Earl "Speedoo" Carroll, New York City, rocker, Cadillacs, Coasters November 2 in History". Brainyhistory.com. Retrieved 2012-11-26.
- ↑ "The Cadillacs - Singer Earl Carroll Dies". ContactMusic.com. November 26, 2012. Retrieved 2012-11-26.
- ↑ Hinckley, David (November 26, 2012). "Earl 'Speedo' Carroll, beloved singer of New York-style vocal harmony in the 1950s, dies at 75". NY Daily News. Retrieved 2012-11-26.