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	(1940-07-19) July 19, 1940 (age 85) El Paso, Texas, U.S.
Genres	Latin pop pop traditional pop mariachi
Occupation(s)	Singer
Instruments	Vocals Guitar
Years active	1962–present
Labels	Liberty Columbia UMG

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.

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

Singles

1960s and 1970s

• Years represent year of release, not necessarily the chart peak year.

1980s to the present

Images for kids

• 

  Vikki Carr in 1968

• 

  Carr performing in the East Room of the White House during a November 1974 state dinner

See also

In Spanish: Vikki Carr para niños