Vikki Carr

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Vikki Carr was 2008 Latin Grammy's Lifetime Achievement Award Winner. Congratulations!

Don't forget to check out Vikki Carr's PBS Special Fiesta Mexicana

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Vikki Carr Biography

Vikki Carr is one of the best-loved and most accomplished entertainers in the United States, Latin America and Europe. This year marks the fifth decade of a career in which she has won three Grammy Awards and has released over 60 best-selling recordings. She has performed for the Queen of England, five United States Presidents, wartime soldiers in Vietnam and sold-out audiences around the world. She has worked in radio, television, film and theater. Her music embraces two languages and she is among the first artists to bridge the cultures of the United States and Latin America, paving the way for many performers today.

In addition to her many album releases (see Discography), Vikki Carr has played concerts for fans around the world, as well as appeared on stage, and television. She has starred in productions of South Pacific, The Unsinkable Molly Brown, Taking it on the Road ... And I'm Getting My Act Together. In 2002 she starred in the Reprise production of Steven Sondheim's beloved musical "Follies" in Los Angeles, garnering glowing reviews from the LA Times, Hollywood Reporter, and Variety. Two years later, Los Angeles PBS affiliate, KCET, filmed a special Vikki Carr: Memories, Memorias: a salute to the English-language hits of the 1940s and 1950s originally composed by Latinos, and featuring guest appearances by Jack Jones, Pepe Aguilar and Arturo Sandoval. PBS has again tapped Vikki to host and star in a new production celebrating the music of Mexico, Fiesta Mexicana, which will be featured on all PBS stations for their June 2008 pledge drive.

Born in El Paso, Texas, and raised in the San Gabriel Valley of California, Vikki Carr, the eldest of seven children, began performing at the tender age of four singing Adeste Fidelis in Latin at a Christmas program. She was signed to a contract with Liberty Records in 1961. She 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 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 she and the song were featured in the storyline of the Academy Award winning movie Moonstruck. After It Must Be Him came a string of hits including With Pen In Hand, for which she received her fourth Grammy Award nomination, The Lesson, Can't Take My Eyes Off of You and For Once in My Life.

Her international appeal was so great that she was invited to perform at a Royal Command Performance for Queen Elizabeth, followed by sold-out shows throughout Europe. In the States, Vikki became a darling of the White House, performing regularly at State Dinners and at President Richard Nixon's 1973 Inaugural celebration. President Ford called her his "favorite Mexican dish." She also performed for Presidents' Reagan, Bush and at the 1992 Presidential Summit hosted by President Clinton.

A frequent musical guest on major network variety shows, including Dean Martin, Ed Sullivan, Perry Como, and Carol Burnett, Vikki also taped six specials for London Weekend TV. As an actor, she appeared on the Bing Crosby Show, Mod Squad, Fantasy Island, and co-hosted the Mrs. America and Mrs. World of the World pageants. Vikki was the first female to regularly guest host for Johnny Carson on the Tonight Show. She was also a visitor and guest host on Michael Jackson's ABC radio show.

The diversity of her rich voice is impressive. She can belt out the blues or touch the heart with a soft romantic ballad. Frank Sinatra said, "She possesses my kind of voice", Dean Martin called her "the best girl singer in the business" and Bing Crosby and Ella Fitzgerald named her among their three favorite female singers of all time. Elvis Presley was also very fond of her and even remarked on stage in Las Vegas many times that Vikki Carr was one of his favorite singers and that he liked her because "she sang from the gut" and introduced her at many of his personal appearances in which she attended.

Vikki Carr has received too many prestigious awards to list, including the 2005 National Hispanic Media Coalition Impact Lifetime Achievement Award, 2003 Latino Spirit Award, 2003 Tito Guizar Award, 2002 Trefoil Award, 2000 Inductee, Latino Legends Hall of Fame, 1998 Imagen Foundation "Humanitarian Award, 1996 Hispanic Heritage Award, 1988 Nosotros Golden Eagle Award, 1984 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. She has 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, she was presented the Girl Scouts of America Award.

Respected as both an artist and a humanitarian, she devotes time to many charities including The United Way, The American Lung Association, Cancer Therapy and Research Center, The Muscular Dystrophy Association and St Jude's Hospital. For 22 years she held benefit concerts to support Holy Cross High School in San Antonio. In 1971 Vikki 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.

"My voice is a gift and a gift is nothing unless you can share it. The Foundation is one of the ways that I am able to share my gift," said Carr. "The Foundation seeks to help young Mexican-American students achieve their goals through a college education, something I myself was never able to do."

Vikki Carr Timeline

1940	Born Florencia Bisenta de Casillas Martinez Cardona in El Paso, Texas.
1944	First stage performance singing Adeste Fidelis in Latin at a Christmas Program.
1958	Graduated from Rosemead High School and performed with the Pepe Callaghan Band.
1961	Signed with Liberty Records. First major recording success in Australia with He's A Rebel.
1963	Nominated for Grammy Award for Best New Artist.
1966	Toured Vietnam with friend Danny Kaye.
1967	Album It Must Be Him nominated for three Grammy Awards in the categories of "Best Contemporary Female Solo Vocal Performance," "Best Vocal Performance Female" and "Album of the Year". Royal Command Performance for Queen Elizabeth II. Critically acclaimed performance in South Pacific, Starlight Theater, Kansas City.
1968	Outstanding Entertainer of the Year, Los Angeles. Performance at London Palladium set precedent for sellout concerts in Germany, Spain, France, England, Australia, Holland and Japan. Tapes six Vikki Carr Specials for London Weekend TV.
1969	Hit With Pen In Hand nominated for a Grammy Award in the category of "Best Contemporary Vocal Performance Female." Performed in The Unsinkable Molly Brown, John Kenley Players, Ohio.
1970	Signed with Columbia Records Named "Woman of the Year" by the L.A. Times. American Dairy Association offered $10,000 to Carr's favorite charity in return for her commercial endorsement. In return, Carr used the money to establish the Vikki Carr Scholarship Foundation.
1971	Vikki Carr Scholarship Foundation established in California for Mexican-Americans pursuing a higher education. Performs benefit concert to support Holy Cross High School in San Antonio, Texas. Concert appearances provide support for 22 years.
1972	Released first Spanish-language album, Vikki Carr En Espanol. Named "Entertainer of the Year" by the American Guild of Variety Artists. First foreign artist to be names "Entertainer of the Year" in Mexico.
1974	Honorary Chairperson for two consecutive years, for The American Lung Association Christmas Seals Campaign. Received Doctorate in Fine Arts from St. Edwards University. Received Doctorate in Law from San Diego University.
1976	Triumphant return to London Palladium.
1977	Tours Japan.
1979	Received Toast Master International Humanitarian Award.
1980	Signed with CBS Mexico (now Sony) and concentrated her efforts on Spanish Language recordings, which garnered Gold and Platinum records for such Hits as Total, Disculpame, and Mala Suerte.
1981	Presented with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. Received the Nosotros Golden Eagle Award as Humanitarian Woman of the Year.
1982	Received A.C.E. Award for "Best Female Singer - Disculpame."
1983	Broke house records at the Westport Playhouse in St. Louis for I'm Getting My Act Together ... And Taking It On the Road.
1985	Won first Grammy Award for "Best Mexican-American Performance for her first mariachi recording, Simplemente Mujer.
1986	Named "Hispanic Woman of the Year" by the Los Angeles Hispanic Women's Council.
1987	Popular hit It Must Be Him featured prominently in the Academy Award Winning movie Moonstruck.
1988	Received Nosotros Golden Eagle Award for "Outstanding Performer."
1989	Released Sony Album, Esos Hombres, went Gold and Platinum in Mexico, Chile Puerto Rico and the United States. Received second A.C.E. Award Received "Visiting Singer of the Year" from Aplausos '89, Aruba.
1990	Featured singer at Nixon Library dedication where she sang for Presidents George Bush, Ronald Reagan, Gerald Ford and Richard Nixon. Received the "Founder of Hope Award" from the City of Hope, Los Angeles. Received Career Achievement Award from the Association of Hispanic Critics. Received the YWCA Silver Achievement Award. Performed at London's Royal Albert Hall. Broke record for Sunday performance of Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo at the Houston Astrodome. 1991 Received Key Girl Scouts of America Award.
1992	Won Grammy Award for Best Latin Pop Album for Cosas del Amor. Received Premio Ronda for "Best Female Album", Venezuela.
1993	Nominated for a Grammy Award for "Best Latin Pop Album" for Brindo A La Vida, Al Bolero, A Ti.
1994	Performed in Concert of the Americas for the Presidential Summit hosted by Bill Clinton.
1995	Won Grammy Award for "Best Mexican-American Performance, Vocal or Instrumental" for Recuerdo a Javier Solis.
1996	Received the Hispanic Heritage Award, Washington, D.C.
1998	Received Imagen Foundation's first "Humanitarian Award" for outstanding contributions to the Hispanic Community. Recipient of the "Latina 2000 Award" by Moderna Magazine. Recipient of the Salute to Education Award (Arts) by Ford Motor Company Performed in Judy Garland Tribute at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY Taped first Bilingual TV Special, "Vikki Carr Memories, Memorias" produced by PBS for National Broadcast.
1999	Taped first bilingual television special for PBS "Memories, Memorias" becoming one of the most successful pledge drive in PBS history.
2000	Recorded and released The Vikki Carr Christmas Album on Delta Records Taped PBS special "The Mexican Americans" Inducted into the Latino Legends Hall of Fame.
2001	Received the Mexican-American Correctional Association, Los Angeles Chapter Humanitarian Award.
2002	Starred in the Reprise production of Steven Sondheim's musical "Follies" in L.A. Recipient of the prestigious Girl Scouts Trefoil Award. Inducted into the Casino Legends Hall of Fame. Featured in the David Franco motion picture Puerto Vallarta Squeeze.
2003	Recipient of the Tito Guizar Award. Recipient of the Pioneer Award from the Latino Spirit Awards.
2005	Received National Hispanic Media Coalition Impact Lifetime Achievement Award.
2006	Sold Out Summer Concert Tour of US, Mexico and Dominican Republic. Recipient of the Ruben Fuentes Award.
2008	Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award Winner. Hosted PBS Special "Fiesta Mexicana" for use in 2008 pledge drive.

Vikki Carr Discography

Singles

1962	He's a Rebel (Australia #5; US #115)
1966	My Heart Reminds Me (US Adult Contemporary #31)
1966	It Must Be Him (UK #2; 1967: US #3; US Adult Contemporary #1; Australia #2)
1966	So Nice (Summer Samba) (US Adult Contemporary #32)
1966	Until Today (US Adult Contemporary #39)
1966	Now I Know the Feeling (US Adult Contemporary #28)
1967	There I Go (UK #50)
1967	The Lesson (US #34; US Adult Contemporary #1)
1968	She'll Be There (US #99; US Adult Contemporary #13)
1968	Your Heart Is Free Just Like the Wind (US #91; US Adult Contemporary #32)
1968	Don't Break My Pretty Balloon (US #114; US Adult Contemporary #7)
1968	A Dissatisfied Man (US Adult Contemporary #18)
1969	With Pen in Hand (US #35; US Adult Contemporary #6)
1969	Eternity (US #79; US Adult Contemporary #5)
1970	Singing My Song (US #111; US Adult Contemporary #30)
1970	I'll Be Home (US #96; US Adult Contemporary #7)
1971	Six Weeks Every Summer (Christmas Every Other Year) (US Adult Contemporary #28)
1971	I'd Do It All Again (US Adult Contemporary #39)
1972	The Big Hurt (US #108; US Adult Contemporary #31)
1974	Wind Me Up (US Adult Contemporary #45)
1986	Esta noche vendras (US Hot Latin Tracks #33)
1987	Dos Corazones (duet with Vicente Fernandez) (US Hot Latin Tracks #10)
1988	Mala Suerte (US Hot Latin Tracks #3)
1988	Hay otro en tu lugar (US Hot Latin Tracks #14)
1991	Cosas del amor (duet with Ana Gabriel) (US Hot Latin Tracks #1)
1993	Dejame (US Hot Latin Tracks #30)

Albums

1963	Color Her Great!
1964	Discovery! (US #114)
1964	Discovery Vol. II
1965	Anatomy of Love
1966	The Way of Today (UK #31)
1967	Intimate Excitement
1967	It Must Be Him (US #12; UK #12)
1967	Great Performances (UK release only)
1968	Vikki! (U.S. #63)
1968	Don't Break My Pretty Balloon
1969	For Once in My Life (U.S. #29)
1970	Nashville by Car (U.S. #111)
1971	The Ways to Love a Man
1971	Que Sea El
1971	Love Story (U.S. #60)
1971	Superstar (U.S. #118)
1972	The First Time Ever (I Saw Your Face) (U.S. #146)
1972	En Espanol (U.S. #106)
1972	Ms. America (U.S. #142)
1973	Live at the Greek Theatre (U.S. #172)
1974	One Hell of a Woman (U.S. #155)
1975	Hoy (U.S. #203)
1980	Y El Amor
1981	El Retrato del Amor
1982	Vikki Carr
1984	A Todos
1985	Simplemente Mujer (U.S. Latin Pop #15; U.S. Regional Mexican #3)
1986	Promesas
1986	Esta Noche Vendras
1986	OK Mr. Tango with Mariano Mores
1987	Me Enloqueces
1987	Dos Corazones with Vicente Fernandez (U.S. Regional Mexican #2)
1988	Esos Hombres (U.S. Latin Pop #4)
1990	Set Me Free
1991	Cosas del Amor (U.S. Latin Pop #1)
1993	Brindo a La Vida, Al Bolero, A Ti
1994	Recuerdo a Javier Solis (U.S. Latin Pop #10)
1996	Emociones
1998	Vikki Carr con el Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlan
1999	Memories, Memorias
2001	The Vikki Carr Christmas Album

Vikki Carr Foundation

In 1971, together with a handful of friends, Grammy Award-winning artist, Vikki Carr, established a non-profit foundation to publicly promote the talents and accomplishments of Latinos beyond the Hispanic community, and to personally return the support and encouragement she received from others in her own musical career.

The original purpose of the Vikki Carr Scholarship Foundation was to provide financial assistance to Mexican-American high school seniors in California for their college education. Since then, under the direction of it’s founder and a volunteer board of directors, this charitable organization has awarded more than 200 scholarships to California students and has expanded to embrace students in Texas from diverse Latino backgrounds in all areas and levels of study. The Vikki Carr Scholarship Foundation remains committed to helping Hispanic youth become leaders in our society.

“The foundation is my way of thanking God for the gift of my voice, a gift that helped me realize my dreams. In return, I want to help Hispanic students realize their dreams by assisting their efforts to pursue higher education.”

Links

Management: Carol Peters at Peters Management Syndicate info@petersmgmt.com