Vikki Carr facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Vikki Carr
|
|
---|---|
Vikki Carr in 1974
|
|
Background information | |
Birth name | Florencia Vicenta de Casillas-Martínez Cardona |
Born | El Paso, Texas, U.S. |
July 19, 1940
Genres | |
Occupation(s) | Singer |
Instruments |
|
Years active | 1962–present |
Labels |
Vikki Carr is an American singer known for her powerful voice. Her real name is Florencia Vicenta de Casillas-Martínez Cardona. She was born on July 19, 1940. Vikki Carr has been singing for over 50 years!
She was born in El Paso, Texas, and her parents were from Mexico. Vikki Carr sings many types of music, like pop and jazz. But she is most famous for her songs in Spanish. She has won three Grammy Awards. In 2008, she received a special Lifetime Achievement Award at the Latin Grammy Awards. She also started a scholarship foundation in 1971 to help students go to college.
Contents
Vikki Carr's Singing Journey
Vikki Carr started her singing career in 1962. She signed with Liberty Records. Her first song to become popular was "He's a Rebel" in 1962. It reached number 3 in Australia.
In 1966, Vikki Carr traveled to South Vietnam. She performed for American troops with actor Danny Kaye. The next year, her album It Must Be Him was nominated for three Grammy Awards. The song "It Must Be Him" became a huge hit. It sold over a million copies and reached number 3 on the US charts in 1967.
She had more hit songs like "The Lesson" in 1968 and "With Pen in Hand" in 1969. Famous singer Dean Martin even called her "the best girl singer in the business." Vikki Carr had 10 hit songs and 13 albums that made it onto the US pop charts.
Television Appearances and Honors
Vikki Carr was often on TV shows. She appeared on The Carol Burnett Show in 1969. She was also a favorite guest on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, appearing more than 30 times. Sometimes, she even hosted the show!
In 1970, the Los Angeles Times newspaper named her "Woman of the Year." In 1981, she received a star on the famous Hollywood Walk of Fame. Vikki Carr has also sung for five different US presidents: Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan, George Bush, and Bill Clinton.
Success in Latin Music
In the 1980s and 1990s, Vikki Carr became very successful in Latin music. She won more Grammy Awards for her Spanish albums.
- In 1986, she won for Simplemente Mujer.
- In 1992, she won for Cosas del Amor.
- In 1995, she won for Recuerdo a Javier Solís.
Her song "Cosas del Amor" was a number 1 hit on the US Latin charts in 1991. Her Spanish albums have sold so well that they earned gold and platinum awards in many countries. These include Mexico, Chile, and Puerto Rico. She also lent her voice to the character Georgette in the Latin American version of Disney's Oliver & Company.
Recent Work and Legacy
In 1999, Vikki Carr filmed a TV special for PBS. It was called Vikki Carr: Memories, Memorias. In this show, she sang popular songs in both English and Spanish.
In 2002, she performed in a musical called Follies in Los Angeles. In 2008, she hosted another PBS special, Fiesta Mexicana. This show celebrated Mexican music and dance. That same year, she received her Lifetime Achievement Award from the Latin Recording Academy. She performed "Cosas del Amor" at the Latin Grammy telecast with other singers.
In 2019, Vikki Carr sang at a special event in El Paso. This event helped victims of a shooting that happened there.
Helping Others
Vikki Carr cares a lot about helping people. She supports many charities, like the United Way and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. For 22 years, she held concerts to raise money for a school in San Antonio, Texas.
In 1971, she started the Vikki Carr Scholarship Foundation. This foundation gives money to Hispanic students. It helps them pay for college in California and Texas. Since 2018, the foundation has given out over 280 scholarships. This adds up to more than $250,000!
Personal Life
Vikki Carr has been married three times. Her last marriage was to Dr. Pedro De Leon from 1993 until he passed away in 2019.
Discography
Albums
Year | Album | US 200 | US Latin | UK |
notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1963 | Color Her Great! | - | - | - | |
1964 | Discovery! | 114 | - | - | |
Discovery Vol. II | - | - | - | ||
1965 | Anatomy of Love | - | - | - | liner notes by Ethel Merman |
1966 | The Way of Today! | - | - | 31 | |
1967 | Intimate Excitement | - | - | - | |
It Must Be Him | 12 | - | 12 | UK release differs from US release | |
1968 | Vikki! | 63 | - | - | |
Don't Break My Pretty Balloon | - | - | - | ||
1969 | For Once in My Life | 29 | - | - | live |
1970 | Nashville By Carr | 111 | - | - | recorded in Nashville |
1971 | The Ways to Love a Man | - | - | - | |
Que Sea El | - | - | - | ||
Vikki Carr's Love Story | 60 | - | - | ||
Superstar | 118 | - | - | ||
1972 | The Best Of Vikki Carr | - | - | - | |
The First Time Ever (I Saw Your Face) | 146 | - | - | Song Sung Blue in UK | |
En Español | 106 | - | - | ||
1973 | Ms. America | 142 | - | - | |
Live at the Greek Theatre | 172 | - | - | ||
1974 | One Hell of a Woman | 155 | - | - | |
1975 | Hoy | 203 | - | - | |
1976 | The Story of a Woman | - | - | - | live from Japan (JP release only) |
1980 | Y El Amor | - | - | - | |
1981 | El Retrato Del Amor | - | - | - | |
1982 | Vikki Carr | - | - | - | |
1984 | A Todos | - | - | - | |
1985 | Simplemente Mujer | - | - | - | No. 3 US Regional MX / No. 15 US Latin Pop |
1986 | Promesas | - | - | - | |
Esta Noche Vendras | - | - | - | ||
OK Mr. Tango | - | - | - | with Mariano Mores | |
1987 | Dos Corazones (with Vicente Fernández) | - | - | - | No. 2 US Regional MX |
Me Enloqueces | - | - | - | ||
1988 | Esos Hombres | - | - | - | No. 4 US Latin Pop |
1990 | Set Me Free | - | - | - | several songs from Esos Hombres sung in English |
1991 | Cosas del Amor | - | - | - | No. 1 US Latin Pop |
1992 | It Must Be Him – The Best of Vikki Carr | - | - | - | |
1993 | Brindo a La Vida, Al Bolero, A Ti | - | - | - | |
1994 | Recuerdo a Javier Solís | - | 35 | - | No. 10 US Latin Pop |
1996 | Emociones | - | - | - | |
1998 | Con el Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán | - | - | - | |
1999 | Memories, Memorias | - | - | - | from the PBS TV Special |
2001 | The Vikki Carr Christmas Album | - | - | - | |
2012 | Viva La Vida | 49 | - | No. 16 US Latin Pop | |
2014 | The First time ever + 9 Bonus track | ||||
Love again: The Lost Columbia Masters |
Singles
1960s and 1970s
- Years represent year of release, not necessarily the chart peak year.
Year | Titles (A-side, B-side) Both sides from same album except where indicated |
US 100 | CB | US AC | UK |
AUS | Original Source |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1962 | "I'll Walk the Rest Of The Way" b/w "Beside A Bridge (Along The River Tiber)" |
- | - | - | - | - | Non-album tracks |
"He's A Rebel" b/w "Be My Love" |
115 | 102 | - | - | 3 | ||
1963 | "The Rose and Butterfly" b/w "From Nine To Five" |
- | - | - | - | - | |
"San Francisco" b/w "Look Again" |
- | - | - | - | - | Color Her Great | |
"Medley: Poor Butterfly/Stay" b/w "The Right Kind Of Man" (Non-album track) |
- | - | - | - | - | Discovery! | |
1964 | "Forget You" b/w "Her Little Heart Went To Loveland" |
- | - | - | - | - | It Must Be Him |
1965 | "Busca Ese Camino" b/w "No Seas Asi" |
- | - | - | - | - | Non-album tracks |
"The Color Of Love" b/w "There Goes My Heart" |
- | - | - | - | - | Unforgettable | |
"Unforgettable" b/w "Theme From Peyton Place" |
- | - | - | - | - | ||
"I Only Have Eyes For You" b/w "None But The Lonely Heart" |
- | - | - | - | - | Anatomy Of Love | |
1966 | "The Silencers" b/w "Santiago" (from Unforgettable) |
- | - | - | - | - | Non-album track |
"Heartaches" b/w "True Love's A Blessing" (Non-album track) |
- | - | - | - | - | Anatomy Of Love | |
"My Heart Reminds Me" b/w "Can I Trust You" |
- | 127 | 31 | - | - | The Way Of Today! | |
"Summer Samba (So Nice)" b/w "It Must Be Him" (from It Must Be Him) |
- | - | 32 | - | - | Unforgettable | |
"Until Today" / | - | - | 39 | - | - | Non-album track | |
"Now I Know The Feeling" | - | - | 28 | - | - | Unforgettable | |
1967 | "Sunshine" b/w "Fly Away" (Non-album track) |
- | - | - | - | - | The Very Best Of Vikki Carr |
"There I Go" b/w "One More Mountain" (from It Must Be Him) UK release only |
- | - | - | 50 | - | Vikki! | |
"It Must Be Him" b/w "That's All" (from That's All) |
3 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 1 | It Must Be Him | |
1968 | "The Lesson" b/w "One More Mountain" (from It Must Be Him) |
34 | 35 | 1 | - | 44 | Vikki! |
"She'll Be There" / | 99 | 92 | 13 | - | - | Don't Break My Pretty Balloon | |
"Your Heart is Free Just Like the Wind" | 91 | - | 32 | - | - | ||
"Don't Break My Pretty Balloon" b/w "Nothing To Lose" |
114 | 103 | 7 | - | - | ||
"A Dissatisfied Man" b/w "Happy Together" (from For Once In My Life) |
- | - | 18 | - | - | The Ways To Love A Man | |
"With Pen In Hand" | 35 | 42 | 6 | 39 | - | For Once In My Life | |
1969 | "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" | - | - | - | - | - | It Must Be Him |
"Eternity" b/w "I Will Wait For Love" (Non-album track) |
79 | 69 | 5 | - | - | The Best Of Vikki Carr | |
1970 | "Singing My Song" b/w "Make It Rain" |
- | - | 30 | - | - | Nashville by Carr |
"I'll Be Home" b/w "Call My Heart Your Home" |
96 | 117 | 7 | - | - | Vikki Carr's Love Story | |
1971 | "Six Weeks Every Summer (Christmas Every Other Year)" b/w "If You Could Read My Mind" |
- | - | 28 | - | - | |
"I Can't Give Back the Love I Feel for You" b/w "I've Never Been A Woman Before" (from Vikki Carr's Love Story) |
- | 103 | - | - | - | Superstar | |
"I'd Do It All Again" b/w "I'm Gonna Love You" |
- | 102 | 39 | - | - | ||
1972 | "The Big Hurt" b/w "Cabaret" (from The First Time Ever (I Saw Your Face)) |
108 | - | 31 | - | - | Non-album track |
"Grande, Grande, Grande" b/w "Y Volvere" |
- | - | - | - | - | Los Exitos De Hoy Y De Siempre | |
"Let the Band Play On" b/w "Reflections" |
- | - | - | - | - | Non-album tracks | |
1973 | "Ms. America" b/w "We Didn't Know The Time Of Day" |
- | - | - | - | - | Ms. America |
"Leave A Little Room" b/w "Have You Heard The News" |
- | - | - | - | - | Live At The Greek Theatre | |
1974 | "Sleeping Between Two People" b/w "Borrowed Time" (Non-album track) |
- | - | - | - | - | One Hell Of A Woman |
"Wind Me Up" b/w "One Hell of a Woman" |
- | - | 45 | - | - | ||
1975 | "Hoy" b/w "El Pajaro Herido" |
- | - | - | - | - | Hoy (Today) |
"Puttin' Myself In Your Hands" b/w "I Don't Want A Sometimes Man" |
- | - | - | - | - | Non-album tracks |
1980s to the present
Year | Song | US Latin | Original Source |
---|---|---|---|
1980 | "Disculpame" | - | Y El Amor |
"Abrazame" | - | Y El Amor | |
1981 | "Total" | - | El Retrato del Amor |
1982 | "Todo Me Gusta de Ti" | - | Vikki Carr |
1983 | "Ya" | - | Vikki Carr |
"Prefiero Amar un Extraño" | - | El Retrato del Amor | |
"Eso No" | - | El Retrato del Amor | |
1984 | "Comprendeme" | - | A Todos |
1985 | "Ni Princesa Ni Esclava" | - | Simplemente Mujer |
"Atrapame" | - | Simplemente Mujer | |
"Ni Me Viene Ni Me Va" | - | Simplemente Mujer | |
"Cantare, Cantaras" | - | Hermanos | |
1986 | "Promesas" | - | Promesas |
"Yo Creo en un Mundo de Amor" | - | OK Mr. Tango | |
"Esta Noche Vendras" | 33 | Esta Noche Vendras | |
"Tu Dicha, Tu Calma" | - | Esta Noche Vendras | |
"Asi es la Vida" | - | Esta Noche Vendras | |
1987 | "Que No Que No" | - | Me Enloqueces |
"Fallaste Corazon" | - | Me Enloqueces | |
"Me Parece Perfecto" | - | Me Enloqueces | |
"Dos Corazones" (duet with Vicente Fernández) | 10 | Dos Corazones | |
"Juntos los Dos" | - | Dos Corazones | |
1988 | "Mala Suerte" | 3 | Esos Hombres |
"Hay Otro en Tu Lugar" | 14 | Esos Hombres | |
"Esos Hombres" | 37 | Esos Hombres | |
1991 | "Cosas del Amor" (duet with Ana Gabriel) | 1 | Cosas del Amor |
"Me Estoy Volviendo Loca" | - | Cosas del Amor | |
"Con los Brazos Abiertos" | - | Cosas del Amor | |
1993 | "Dejame" | 30 | Brindo a La Vida, Al Bolero, A Ti |
"Nadie" | - | Brindo a La Vida, Al Bolero, A Ti | |
"Una Mujer" | - | Brindo a La Vida, Al Bolero, A Ti | |
1994 | "Amaneci en Tus Brazos" | - | Recuerdo a Javier Solis |
"Sombras" | - | Recuerdo a Javier Solis | |
"En Mi Viejo San Juan" | - | Recuerdo a Javier Solis | |
1996 | "Emociones" | - | Emociones |
"Que No Se Rompa la Noche" | - | Emociones | |
1998 | "No Soy de Piedra" | - | Con El Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitan |
Images for kids
-
Carr performing in the East Room of the White House during a November 1974 state dinner
See also
In Spanish: Vikki Carr para niños