Cadillacs' Bobby
Phillips Tribute
Bobby Phillips, original founding member of the legendary R&B
group, the Cadillacs, passed away Sunday, March 6, 2011.
Bobby Phillips began singing in Harlem in 1953 with the Carnations (Earl Carroll, Bobby Phillips,
Lavern Drake and Gus Willingham). Upon signing with manager Ester
Navarro, James "Pappa" Clark was added to the group and their name was changed
to the Cadillacs. The Cadillacs first record, "Gloria," was issued by
Josie Records in 1954. The song was a reworking of a tune the Cadillacs
remembered the Mills Brothers doing, but their interpretation ended up quite
different. The Cadillacs' "Gloria" became a model for street corner
quartets all over the country. The Cadillacs became known not only for
their outstanding harmony, but for their stage presence and choreography.
With personnel changes, numerous hits followed, including "Zoom" and "Speedo,"
a song that quickly gave Earl Carroll his nickname.
Bobby Phillips stayed with the Cadillacs through most of the
1950's. While Earl Carroll was singing with the Coasters in the 1960's
and 1970's, Bobby Phillips would occasionally perform with different Cadillacs
personnel, but the recombination of Carroll and Phillips for a 1979 Subaru
commercial breathed new life into the Cadillacs career. From that time
on until his death, Bobby was back singing with Speedo & the Cadillacs.
Another great voice in our music has been stilled. RIP
Bobby.
The Cadillacs on the cover of Bim Bam Boom magazine, 1972.
Bobby Phillips in on the bottom left. The group's bio, written here
by Sal Mondrone, Tom Luciani, Steve Flam and Ralph Newman
was one among the first to tell the Cadillacs history.
Sheet music to the Cadillacs' "Speedo"
(Courtesy of the Paul Ressler Archives)
The Cadillacs
(From the Classic Urban Harmony Archives)
The Cadillacs
(From the Classic Urban Harmony Archives)
Cadillacs LP
(From the Classic Urban Harmony Archives)
Vintage magazine ad for the Cadillacs
(From the Classic Urban Harmony Archives)
Speedo & the Cadillacs, ca. 2000
Bobby Phillips on left.
(From the Classic Urban Harmony Archives)
The Cadillacs & Pam Horner at the R&B Foundation Awards
Ceremony, 2008
Bobby Phillips is on the right.
(Photo from the Classic Urban Harmony Archives)
The Cadillacs (Bobby Phillips on right) are covered in
John Michael Runowicz's new book,
Doo Wop: Race, Nostalgia and Vocal Harmony
Copyright © Classic Urban Harmony LLC, 2011. All
Rights Reserved.
