Earl Carroll (vocalist)

Earl "Speedo" Carroll (born November 2, 1937 [ [http://www.brainyhistory.com/events/1937/november_2_1937_95960.html Earl "Speedoo" Carroll, New York City, rocker, Cadillacs, Coasters November 2 in History ] ] ) is the lead vocalist for the doo wop group The Cadillacs. The group's biggest hit was "Speedo", Carroll's nickname. It was released in 1955. He later joined The Coasters. Carroll left The Coasters in the early 1990s to permanently reform The Cadillacs. In the 1980s, a much-read newspaper feature discovered that Earl Carroll had made a successful life for himself as a custodian at a PS 87, a New York elementary school, where according to the later book, he was a beloved figure who the children called "Speedo". Carroll was chosen to be the subject of a children's book, "That's Our Custodian," one of a series. The publicity helped him to revive his career. He became a mainstay of the PBS series honoring Doo Wop, hosted by Jerry Butler.

There is a white actor named Earl Carroll who played the character Bernard Pompier in the film, "Alex and Emma" in 2003, and will star as Mr. Lawrence in the film, "Henry Poole is Here" in 2008.

References

"That's Our Custodian," by Ann Morris (Brookfield, CT: Millbrook Press)