Monday, November 26, 2012

Earl 'Speedo' Carroll, R. I. P.

Earl 'Speedo' Carroll, beloved singer of New York-style vocal harmony in the 1950s, dies at 75 - NY Daily News: Earl "Speedo" Carroll, one of the most colorful and beloved singers of New York-style vocal harmony in the 1950s, died Sunday at a city nursing home. He was 75. 

He had been in failing health for the past year, suffering from diabetes, a stroke and other ailments. 

Carroll, who became a custodian at Public School 87 on the upper West Side in the 1980s, was known in the music world for more than five decades as one of the lead singers of the Cadillacs. 

Their 1950s hits included "Gloria," "You Are," "Wishing Well," "My Girlfriend," "Peek-a-Boo" and one perennial holiday favorite, a jive version of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer."

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Well, that sucks. We were just watching a PBS do wop show/fundraiser last night and it featured the Cadillacs doing "Gloria" (while wearing incredible purple suits).

He certainly inspired Sheriff Rhodes.


RIP


Jeff

Cap'n Bob said...

Sorry to hear this.