NEW YORK (November 28, 2012)--Singer Earl "Speedo" Carroll of The Cadillacs has died.

The New York Times reported that Carroll died of diabetes and a stroke Sunday in New York at the age of 75.

The Cadillacs were one of many doo-wop groups to emerge from the streets of New York, but one of the first to choreograph dance moves.

Carroll got the nickname "Speedo" because fellow singer Bobby Phillips pointed at a torpedo on display in Massachusetts and said, "Hey Speedo! There's your torpedo!" because Carroll had a pointy-head.

Carroll responded icily, "My name is Earl."

They wrote that into a song called "Speedoo" they recorded the next day.

It was a hit in 1956.

Carroll later worked as a school janitor for 23 years.