Vikki Carr

Vikki Carr first stepped into the spotlight by performing at school events and with neighborhood ensembles before joining Pepe Callahan's Mexican-Irish band. She turned professional in earnest during the early 1960s. A debut solo engagement in Reno, backed by the Chuck Leonard Quartet, secured her a Liberty recording deal. Although "He's a Rebel" drew little notice stateside, the single topped charts in Australia, opening doors to frequent television bookings and a regular slot on The Ray Anthony Show. Three Top 40 singles arrived by the close of the decade, among them the number-three hit "It Must Be Him." Domestic sales faded early in the 1970s. Enormous Latin-market success followed the 1980 release of Vikki Carr y el Amor. Cosas del Amor earned her the Best Latin Pop Album Grammy in 1991. Reta Manda y Provoca appeared in 1998, with Memories Memorias arriving the following year.