Accurate potential energy curves, transition moments, spectroscopic constants, radiative transition probabilities, and lifetimes for the states X (3)Sigma(-), (1) (3)Pi, and (2) (3)Sigma(-) of BeC, MgC, and CaC are reported using high level calculations. Diagonal transitions dominate for the (2) (3)Sigma(-) --> X (3)Sigma(-) system, with band origins falling at 745, 648, and 770 nm, and an intensity ratio of 6,3,1, respectively for BeC, MgC, and CaC. Radiative lifetimes for v' = 0 are equal to 0.48, 1.45, and 3.29 mus for the state (2) (3)Sigma(-), and equal to 13.57, 10.44, and 9.62 mus for the state (1) (3)Pi for BeC, MgC, and CaC. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.