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Earl "Speedo" Carroll (November 2, 1937 – November 25, 2012) was the lead vocalist of the doo-wop group The Cadillacs. The group's biggest hit was "Speedoo", which with a minor spelling change became Carroll's subsequent nickname. It was released in 1955. He joined The Coasters in 1961, leaving the group in the early 1980s to permanently reform The Cadillacs.

In 1982, Earl took a job as a custodian at the PS 87 elementary school in New York City and worked there until retiring in 2005. A popular figure with the students, he 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 and continued performing until the early 2010s when deteriorating health forced him to retire.

Death

Carroll died on November 25, 2012, of complications from a stroke and diabetes.

References

1. "Earl "Speedo" Carroll, New York City, rocker, Cadillacs, Coasters November 2 in History". Brainyhistory.com. Retrieved November 26, 2012.
2. "About". www.ps87.info. Retrieved September 1, 2024.
3. "The Cadillacs - Singer Earl Carroll Dies". ContactMusic.com. November 26, 2012. Retrieved November 26, 2012.
4. 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 November 26, 2012.

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