The Cadillacs
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The Cadillacs were an American rock-and-roll and doo-wop group from Harlem, New York; active from 1953 to 1962. The group was noted for their 1955 hit "Speedoo", which was instrumental in attracting Caucasian audiences to African American rock-and-roll performers.
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[edit] History
The group came together as The Carnations in 1953 with members Earl Carroll (lead vocalist), 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 of 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 splinter. 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 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.
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, Speedoo and the Pearls, which recorded briefly in 1959.
The group split and reformed 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 (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 in 1969.
The Cadillacs were back in 1970 with J. R. Bailey, Bobby Spencer, original member Bobby Phillips (who'd retired from Speedoo's group during the split), and new member Leroy Binns, of The Charts. Steven Brown later replaced Phillips. The group split into the mid 1970s. In 1979 Earl Carroll, Earl Wade, Bobby Phillips, and Johnny Brown came together for a Subaru commercial.
Carroll had remained with the Coasters during this time, and left in the early 1990s to permanently reform the Cadillacs with Phillips, Gary K. Lewis, and Eddie Jones, originally fronted but now musical director.
[edit] Awards & Recognition
The Cadillacs were inducted into The Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2004.
