Carl Trantham

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

Carl was born in 1934 and spent his early years in Missouri. When he was his 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 had refined his talent over the years and upon the move to Peoria started performing on WPEO radio as well.

Military duty called, and Carl served his country as an entertainer, performing with Tennessee Ernie Ford stateside as part of the Hometown Jamboree in California, and upon deployment was part of the troupe to entertain 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 had originally written 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 the Uncle Al’s Steakhouse occupied for many years. The building had been a tavern previously, but Trantham tried to make the establishment a bit more upscale. Club Impala closed in 1974.