The Cadillacs - Let Me Explain ~1955

The Cadillacs were a Rock and Roll and Doo-Wop group originating from Harlem, New York. The band got its start as "The Carnations" in 1953 with founding members Earl Carroll (lead vocalist), Bobby Phillips whose family took in Carroll after his mother passed away when young, Lavern Drake (bass vocalist), and Gus Willingham. When the band had gained notoriety from performing at local school functions and other events, they would eventually be noticed by Esther Navarro, a secretary for the Shaw Artist Agency. Prior to the audition, James "Poppa" Clark was added to round out the band and due to the name "The Carnations" already being used by another band, "The Cadillacs" name was born. The band would start recording in July 1954, but the original lineup was short lived when Willingham and Clark left, but replacements were found in Earl Wade and Charles Brooks.

The group continued to do well and gain popularity through 1954 and 1955 until they had they're big hit, the flip side to this song, "Speedoo" (the name coming from Earl Carroll's nickname "Speedy" on account of his slow moving demeanor). Speedoo and today's song, "Let Me Explain" were both recorded in September 1955 and released in October. Neither song moved much at first but thanks to Cleveland disc jockey Alan Freed booking the group for his Christmas show, the group, complete with choreography, beat band after band in their two week run. The Freed show was also a huge turning point in the popularity and visibility of Rock and Roll, often featuring acts by performers of all races, and attracting listeners of all races as well. "Speedoo" hit the billboard chart before the R&B chart and stayed there for four months on into 1956.

Another change up happened when LaVerne Drake left and was replaced with Jimmy Bailey. Sadly, they couldn't get a follow up record hit, but they still remained one of the most heavily booked groups, well into 1957. Sadly, everything kind of fell apart from there. The group left manager and writer Esther Navarro, split into two rival groups of Cadillacs with Earl Carroll leading the "Original Cadillacs" as they were known, with Navarro and Jimmy Bailey leading the other "Cadillacs, both of which were recording on Jubilee Records and amidst the mess basically cancelled each other out. Sometime in early 1958 the groups called a truce, sort of got back together but as more of a comedic doo-wop group than the band they once were earlier in the decade...but remarkably this got them on the charts again in October 1958, reaching into the Top 40 and doing the Alan Freed competition once again.

In 1959, Earl Carroll walked away from the band he had founded and the band continued on with no more hits to speak of. They recorded on a number of labels before calling it quits in the early 1960's. Carroll would go on to join "The Coasters" in 1961 where he would stay for over 20 years. Amazing, he reformed The Cadillacs with veteran member Bobby Phillips along with Johnny Brown and Gary Lewis and kept it going through the 1980's and eventually putting out a comeback record in the early 90's. The group would be inducted in the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2004.