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/
Love Story
Vikki Carr Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To tell the story of how great a love can be
The sweet love story that is older than the sea
The simple truth about the love she brings to me
Where do I start
With her first hello
She gave new meaning to this empty world of mine
She came into my life and made the living fine
She fills my heart
She fills my heart with very special things
With angels' songs , with wild imaginings
She fills my soul with so much love
That anywhere I go I'm never lonely
With her around, who could be lonely
I reach for her hand-it's always there
How long does it last
Can love be measured by the hours in a day
I have no answers now but this much I can say
I know I'll need her till the stars all burn away
And she'll be there
How long does it last
Can love be measured by the hours in a day
I have no answers now but this much I can say
I know I'll need her till the stars all burn away
And she'll be there
Vikki Carr's Love Story is a timeless classic that tells the story of a love that is great and timeless. The opening line, "Where do I begin" perfectly sets the tone for the song about a love that has stood the test of time. The sweet love story that is older than the sea refers to the idea that true love is timeless and it transcends time and space.
The song goes on to describe how the love story began with a simple "hello" which gave the singer new meaning to an otherwise empty world. The lyrics depict a love that is all-consuming, filling the singer's heart and soul with special things and wild imaginings. The sheer force of the love described in the song makes the singer feel never lonely, regardless of where they go.
The final verse asks the question, how long does it last? Can love be measured in hours or days? The singer does not have the answers to these questions, but they know that they will need their lover until the stars all burn away. The song ends with the refrain and she'll be there, a powerful statement about the endurance of true love.
Overall, Love Story is a beautiful expression of the power of love that transcends time, fills the heart with joy and brings meaning to life.
Line by Line Meaning
Where do I begin
How can I accurately describe and express the love I feel?
To tell the story of how great a love can be
To convey the greatness and depth of the love that exists between us
The sweet love story that is older than the sea
Our love is longstanding, unwavering and strong, like the sea
The simple truth about the love she brings to me
I'm grateful for the love and joy she adds to my life
Where do I start
Where do I begin to express how grateful I am for her?
With her first hello
From the first moment we met, her greeting was meaningful to me
She gave new meaning to this empty world of mine
Her presence in my life has given me hope and purpose
There'd never be another love, another time
No one else's presence and love could replace her or this time together
She came into my life and made the living fine
Her entering my life brought happiness and improved its quality
She fills my heart
She fills my heart with love and affection
She fills my heart with very special things
She occupies my heart with precious memories and moments
With angels' songs, with wild imaginings
She brings heaven's sounds and wonderful dreams to my heart
She fills my soul with so much love
Her love for me enhances and enriches my life on a soul level
That anywhere I go I'm never lonely
As long as her love is with me, I feel content and secure wherever I am.
With her around, who could be lonely
Her presence means I never feel lonely or without companionship
I reach for her hand-it's always there
Her constant presence and support are always accessible for me when I need them
How long does it last
Is there an end to this love?
Can love be measured by the hours in a day
Time is not sufficient to measure or quantify the depth and intensity of love.
I have no answers now but this much I can say
I may not have all the answers, but what I can say is
I know I'll need her till the stars all burn away
I will always need her as much as I need the universe's stars.
And she'll be there
And I know she will always be there for me, now and forevermore.
Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Carl Sigman, Francis Lai
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind