Vikki Carr!

Florencia Bisenta De Casillas Martinez Cardona, 19 July 1941, El Paso, Texas, USA. The eldest of seven children, Carr made her public debut at the age of four singing "Silent Night" in Latin at a Christmas concert, before moving to Los Angeles, where Vikki Carr took leading roles in school musicals and studied music. After graduating Vikki Carr auditioned for a job at the Chi Chi Club in Palm Springs where Vikki Carr worked as singer with the "Irish Mexican" Pepe Callahan Orchestra. With them Vikki Carr travelled to Las Vegas, Hawaii and Reno, where Vikki Carr teamed up with the Chuck Leonard Quartette, before pursuing a solo career. After doing some club work Vikki Carr recorded some demos that enticed Liberty Records to sign her. As part of a host of television variety appearances, Vikki Carr was regularly featured as vocalist on the Ray Anthony Show in 1962, and enjoyed a much publicized friendship with Elvis Presley. Vikki Carr's biggest hit was Gilbert B'caud and Mack David's "It Must Be Him" ("Seul Sur Son 'toile") in 1967, which sold in excess of a million copies. Follow-up hits in the UK included "There I Go" and "With Pen In Hand". Vikki Carr became a popular MOR concert performer, a flavour of which was captured on the 1969 live album For Once In My Life. Vikki Carr also performed live in the White House for Presidents Nixon (1970) and Ford (1974). A Royal Command Performance became the equivalent seal of approval in the UK. As the 70s progressed, Carr became increasingly involved in charity work, setting up a scholarship fund for Chicano children. Vikki Carr's popularity in later decades was very much in the Latin market, singing in her native language.

Vikki Carr the meeting

I was working with Vikki Carr at a theater in Phoenix. The day after our first show I got a call from Miss Carr's secretary. Vikki Carr informed me that Vikki would like to see me, in her hotel suite, right away. I went up to Miss Carr's suite and pushed the doorbell. From deep within the suite I heard a voice say, "Come in please."

Vikki Carr's hotel suite

I entered her suite but didn't see her. I called out, "Hello." I heard, "I'm back here." I followed her voice and entered her bedroom and there Vikki Carr was, sprawled across the bed she began to tell me that, "You should not do material about marijuana during my show," that it was demeaning to her Hispanic audience and that Vikki Carr would appreciate it if I would exclude the material.

Vikki Carr and what I told her

I told her that I would be happy to adjust my show and asked her if there would be anything else. She said, "No!" And I left.

Vikki Carr singer Biography

Florencia Biscenta de Casillas Martinez Cardona, was born in El Paso, Texas, but raised in the San Gabriel Valley of California. The eldest of seven children, Vikki Carr, as Vikki Carr later came to be known, began performing at the tender age of four singing Adeste Fidelis in Latin at a Christmas program. Vikki Carr's career was officially launched in 1961 when Vikki Carr was signed to a contract with Liberty Records. Vikki Carr recorded He's a Rebel, which first became a hit in Australia. That title was soon followed by the unforgettable release, It Must Be Him, which charged up the charts to #1 in England. One year later, the single was released in the United States and earned Carr three Grammy Award nominations. The international hit emerged again when Vikki Carr and the song were featured in the storyline of the Academy Award winning movie Moonstruck.

Vikki Carr and a string of other hits

After It Must Be Him came a string of hits including With Pen in Hand, for which Vikki Carr received her fourth Grammy Award nomination, The Lesson, Can't Take My Eyes Off of You, and For Once in My Life.

Vikki Carr's tour of Europe

By 1967, her international appeal was so great that Vikki Carr was invited to perform at a Royal Command Performance for Queen Elizabeth. Vikki Carr packed the London Palladium the following year, setting a precedent for her sold out concerts in Germany, Spain, France, England, Australia, Holland and Japan. A year earlier, Vikki Carr had toured military bases in Vietnam with Danny Kaye, which provided one of the most fulfilling experiences of her career. In 1990, Vikki Carr made a loving return to England with a date at London's Royal Albert Hall.

Vikki Carr at The White House

In the states, Vikki became a darling of the White House, performing regularly at State Dinners and at Richard's Nixon's 1973 Inaugural celebration. Gerald Ford called her his "favorite Mexican Dish." Vikki Carr also performed for Reagan, Bush and at the 1992 Presidential Summit hosted by Bill Clinton.

Vikki Carr on TV

A frequent guest star on major network variety shows, including Dean Martin, Ed Sullivan, Perry Como, and Carol Burnett, Vikki also taped six specials for London Weekend TV. Vikki was the first female to regularly guest host for Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show. Vikki Carr has been a visitor and guest host on Michael Jackson's ABC radio show.

Vikki Carr the actor

Vikki made her acting debut on The Bing Crosby Show. Vikki Carr has had several guest roles in numerous television series ranging from Mod Squad to Fantasy Island, and has co-hosted the nationally syndicated Mrs. America and Mrs. Woman of the World Pageants. Most recently, Carr has made two guest appearances on the popular series Baywatch.

Vikki Carr in the theater

The critics praised Vikki for her stage performances in South Pacific at the Starlight Theater in Kansas City and in The Unsinkable Molly Brown, with the John Kenley Players in Ohio. In 1983, her starring performance in I'm Getting My Act Together and Taking It on the Road broke house records at the Westport Playhouse in St. Louis.

Vikki Carr on Columbia Records

Columbia records signed Vikki Carr in 1970, releasing such favorites as Love Story, Live at the Greek, One Hell of a Woman and Ms. America, which was so ahead of its time.

Vikki Carr's Mexican heritage

Proud of her Mexican Heritage, Vikki Carr has always shared her birth name with her concert audiences and held a deep desire to one day record an album in Spanish. In 1972, Vikki Carr went to the head of Columbia Records for permission to do so, and while her request was initially met with resistance, Carr had a solution to every argument. "My Anglo audience has asked me to do this," Vikki Carr responded firmly. Several months later, Vikki Carr released her first Spanish language album, Vikki Carr en Espanol. Somos Novios, Grande, Grande and Se Acabo became momentous successes, and Vikki was established as one of the most popular and loved recording artists in the Latin World.

Vikki Carr in Mexico

Since making her first personal appearance in Mexico in 1972, the country has had a love affair with Vikki Carr. Vikki Carr is the first non-National named Mexico's "Visiting Entertainer of the Year." Playing nightly to standing ovations and appearing on numerous Mexican programs, her two-hour special broke rating records, attracting more than half of the viewers in Mexico.

Vikki Carr and y El Amor

In 1980, because of the enormous success of her first Spanish language album, Columbia Records in Mexico offered her a contract, and beginning with Vikki Carr y El Amor, her triumphs were unbridled, especially in Latin America.

Vikki Carr in South America

Songs like Total, Disculpame, Esos Hombres and Mala Suerte earned her Gold and Platinum albums in the United States, Mexico, Chile, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Costa Rica, Columbia and Ecuador.

Vikki Carr Grammy

Carr followed with Grammy Award nominees Simplemente Mujer in 1985, Cosas del Amor in 1992, Brindo a la Vida, al Bordero y a Ti in 1993 and Recuerdo a Javier Solis in 1995, taking three of the four awards.

Vikki Carr and Awards

She has received prestigious awards, which include the 1998 Imagen Foundation Humanitarian Award, 1996 Hispanic Heritage Award, 1988 Nosotros Golden Eagle Award, 1986 Hispanic Woman of the Year, 1981 Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, 1974 Doctorate in Law from San Diego University and Doctorate in Fine Arts from St. Edwards University, 1972 American Guild of Variety Artist's Entertainer of the Year, and the Los Angeles Times' highly respected Woman of the Year for 1970.

Vikki Carr and Career Achievement Award

She earned the career achievement award of the Association of Hispanic Critics, Chicago's Ovation Award, the YWCA Silver Achievement Award and was honored in 1990 by the City of Hope with the Founder of Hope Award. In 1991, Vikki Carr was presented with the Girl Scouts of America Award.

Vikki Carr and charity work

Respected as both an artist and a humanitarian, Vikki Carr devotes time to many charities including The United Way. The American Lung Association, Cystic Fibrosis, Cerebral Palsy, The Muscular Dystrophy Association and St. Jude's Hospital. For 22 years Vikki Carr held benefit concerts to support the Holy Cross High School in San Antonio. In 1971 Vikki Carr established the Vikki Carr Scholarship Foundation, dedicated to offering college scholarships to Latino students in California and Texas. To date, the Foundation has awarded more than 280 scholarships totaling over a quarter of a million dollars.

Vikki Carr's voice is a gift from heaven

"My voice is a gift, and a gift is nothing unless you can share it. I didn't like what I was reading and hearing about the image of Latinos and in particular Mexican-Americans. My publicist and friend told me to do something about it. The Foundation is my way of doing something," said Carr. "The Foundation seeks to help young Latino students achieve their goals through a college education, something I myself was never able to do."

Vikki Carr remains calm

Juggling engagements, recording sessions, charity events and family, the pace is frantic, but Vikki Carr remains calm. Smart, successful, warm and engaging, her energy and style are as radiant and irresistible as her extraordinary voice.