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/
Them There Eyes
Vikki Carr Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Life was a beautiful song
Didn't have a care nor worry
Then you had to come along
I fell in love with you first time
I looked into them there eyes
You've got a certain lil' cute way of flirtin'
With them there eyes
No stallin'
I'm fallin'
Going in a big way for sweet little you
My heart is jumpin'
You sure started somethin'
With them there eyes
You'd better watch them if you're wise
They sparkle, they bubble
They're gonna get you in a whole lot of trouble
You're overworkin' 'em
There's danger lurkin' in
Them there eyes
Maybe you think I'm just flirtin'
Maybe you think I'm all lies
Just because I get romantic when I gaze in
Them there eyes
I fell in love with you first time
I looked into them there eyes
You've got a certain lil' cute way of flirtin'
With them there eyes
They make me feel happy, they make me blue
No stallin'
I'm fallin'
Going in a big way for sweet little you
My heart is jumpin'
You sure started somethin'
With them there eyes
You'd better watch them if you're wise
They sparkle
They bubble
They're gonna get you in a whole lot of trouble
You're overworkin' 'em
There's danger lurkin' in
Them there eyes
The lyrics to Vikki Carr's song "Them There Eyes" tell the story of how the singer fell in love with someone simply by looking into their eyes. The song is upbeat and playful, with the singer warning the object of their affection to be careful, as their flirtatious eyes could lead them into trouble. The lyrics suggest that the singer is swept away by this person's charm, unable to resist their "certain lil' cute way of flirtin'." The repetition of the "them there eyes" phrase throughout the song emphasizes the importance of eye contact in building a connection with someone.
The song is a testament to the power of eye contact and the role it can play in romantic attraction. By focusing on this one aspect of their object of affection, the singer suggests that they are able to look past any flaws or imperfections and fall head over heels in love. The playful tone of the song also suggests a lighthearted and uncomplicated love, one that is founded more on chemistry and attraction than anything deeper.
Overall, "Them There Eyes" is a catchy and playful tribute to the power of eye contact in building romantic connections. It is a testament to the idea that sometimes, all it takes is a look to fall head over heels in love.
Line by Line Meaning
I was just minding my business
I was living my life without any trouble or worry.
Life was a beautiful song
I was happy and content with my life.
Didn't have a care nor worry
I wasn't concerned about anything.
Then you had to come along
You entered my life and changed everything.
I fell in love with you first time / I looked into them there eyes
I fell in love with you when I looked into your eyes for the first time.
You've got a certain lil' cute way of flirtin' / With them there eyes
You have an endearing way of flirting with your eyes.
They make me feel happy, they make me blue / No stallin' / I'm fallin'
Your eyes have the power to make me feel both joy and sadness. I can't resist falling in love with you.
Going in a big way for sweet little you / My heart is jumpin' / You sure started somethin'
I am falling for you in a big way and my heart is racing because of you. You have started something inside of me.
You'd better watch them if you're wise / They sparkle, they bubble / They're gonna get you in a whole lot of trouble / You're overworkin' 'em / There's danger lurkin' in / Them there eyes
If you're smart, you should be careful with your eyes because they have a mesmerizing effect. They can bring trouble and you might be overusing them. There's a danger in letting them do all the talking.
Maybe you think I'm just flirtin' / Maybe you think I'm all lies / Just because I get romantic when I gaze in / Them there eyes
You might think that I'm not serious, but every time I look into your eyes, I become romantic and sincere.
Lyrics © DistroKid, Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network
Written by: Maceo Pinkard, Doris Tauber, William Tracy
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Linda Burns
We need more singer's like this. Love it!
Linda Burns
@Roxanne M. 👍🎶🙂🦋
Roxanne M.
And shows.
Pebogotit
It's evident that Dean Martin admired Vikki Carr, one of the greatest female singer as entertainer. God blesses her.
Jorge Luiz Ferraz
Que bela época ! Fantastic!
Karen Williams
Wonderful!! Love this
WAG THE DOG
On top of Vikkis wonderful singing talent, she is also a genuinely nice person!!
Robert Sprouse
Have you met Florencia?
tony yanez
These two together are awesome!!!
Shelly Hatherly
Sheer talent and pure entertainment here! They were great together...