Carl Trantham

Carl Trantham was a local legend, recording artist, and media personality who wrote the regional hit “Caterpillar Man.”

Carl was born in 1934 and spent his early years in Missouri. When he was very young, his father bought him a guitar, and Carl and his siblings learned to play and sing.

In 1951, the family moved to Peoria, and Carl started working for Caterpillar. A self-taught musician, he refined his talent over the years and, upon the move to Peoria, began performing on WPEO radio.

Military duty called, and Carl served his country as an entertainer. He performed with Tennessee Ernie Ford stateside as part of the Hometown Jamboree in California and, upon deployment, was part of the troupe that entertained servicemen on furlough in Europe. He also had a radio show on the Armed Forces Network while in Germany.

Upon his return, Trantham signed a contract with Starday Records. He wrote and recorded the songs “Where There’s A Will There’s A Way” and “Deedle Deedle Dum.”  He moved his family to the Harvard Hills area of Washington Township.  He also had programs on several local radio stations.

Trantham continued his career under the stage name Carl Trent, and in 1970, recorded “Caterpillar Man,” which gained a strong local following.  He originally wrote the tune about a farmer, altered the lyrics, and a hit was born.

In 1972, Trantham opened Club Impala on the west end of Sunnyland, in the building Uncle Al’s Steakhouse later occupied for many years. The building had previously been a tavern, but Trantham tried to make the establishment a bit more upscale. Club Impala closed in 1974.