In addition to her many album releases, 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, and I'm Getting My Act Together and Taking It on the Road. 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 again tapped Vikki to host and star in a production celebrating the music of Mexico, Fiesta Mexicana, which was 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. A 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 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 II, followed by sold-out shows throughout Europe. In the States, Carr became a darling of the White House, performing regularly at State Dinners and at President Richard Nixon's 1973 Inaugural celebration. President Gerald Ford called her his "favorite Mexican dish". She also performed for Presidents Ronald Reagan, George Bush, and at the 1992 Presidential Summit hosted by President Bill Clinton.
A frequent musical guest on major network variety shows of celebrities like Dean Martin, Ed Sullivan, Perry Como, and Carol Burnett, Carr 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. She was the first woman 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 once 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 numerous prestigious awards, including:
- Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award (2008)
- National Hispanic Media Coalition Impact Lifetime Achievement Award (2005)
- Latino Spirit Award (2003)
- Tito Guizar Award (2003)
- Trefoil Award (2002)
- Inductee of the Latino Legends Hall of Fame (2000)
- Imagen Foundation "Humanitarian Award (1998)
- Hispanic Heritage Award (1996)
- Nosotros Golden Eagle Award (1988)
- Hispanic Woman of the Year (1984)
- Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (1981)
- Doctorate in Law from San Diego University (1974)
- Doctorate in Fine Arts from St. Edwards University (1974)
- American Guild of Variety Artists' "Entertainer of the Year" (1972), and
- The Los Angeles Times' highly respected "Woman of the Year" (1970)
She has also 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 both as an artist and a humanitarian, Carr 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 she 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."
Official website: http://www.vikkicarr.com/
Ill Be Home
Vikki Carr Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When your life's in trouble
And you're all alone
When you're feeling down
And you need just a little sympathy
And there's no one else around
To keep you company
Remember, baby
You can always count on me
I'll be home, I'll be home
Honey, I'll be home
I'll be home, I'll be home
Wherever you may wander
Or wherever you may roam
When you come back and
I'll be waiting here for you
Cause no one else, no
No one else will ever love you
The way I do
Yeah, I'll be here to comfort you
And see you through
I'll be home, I'll be home
Honey, I'll be home
I'll be home, I'll be home
I'll be home
in the morning light
I'll be home when you need me
Through the darkest night
These lyrics from Vikki Carr's song "I'll Be Home" express the emotional and comforting sentiments of a lover who promises to always be there for their partner no matter what. The song begins with the singer assuring their lover that in the event of any trouble or loneliness, they can always count on them to come home and be there for them.
The lyrics continue to convey the idea that despite any wandering or traveling, the singer will always be waiting for their lover to come back to them. The second verse emphasizes the unique and unwavering depth of the singer's love for their partner, stating that they are the only one who will ever love them in the way that they do. The final verse vows to be a source of comfort and support through any difficult times.
Overall, the lyrics of "I'll Be Home" express a powerful sense of loyalty, devotion, and love that extends beyond the bounds of physical distance and hardship.
Line by Line Meaning
I'll be home, I'll be home
No matter what comes your way, I will always be here for you
When your life's in trouble
Whenever you are facing challenges in life
And you're all alone
When you have no one else to turn to
When you're feeling down
When you are sad or depressed
And you need just a little sympathy
When you need someone to show a little kindness and understanding
And there's no one else around
When there is no one else available to help you
To keep you company
To be there for you when you need someone to talk to or be with
Remember, baby
Don't forget, my dear
You can always count on me
You can rely on me to be there for you
Honey, I'll be home
My love, I will always be waiting for you at home
Wherever you may wander
No matter where life takes you
Or wherever you may roam
No matter where you go
When you come back and
When you return to me and
I'll be waiting here for you
I will be patiently waiting for you to come home to me
Cause no one else, no
Because there is no one else, no
No one else will ever love you
No one else will ever care for you or cherish you
The way I do
As deeply and truly as I do
Yeah, I'll be here to comfort you
Yes, I will be here to provide comfort and solace when you need it
And see you through
And help you get through the difficult times
Contributed by Julian L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.