Irene Cara, a name synonymous with talent and tenacity, carved a remarkable path in the entertainment industry. As an actress, singer, songwriter, and producer, she achieved a level of success that many aspire to but few attain. From mastering the piano by ear at just five years old to winning an Oscar, multiple Grammy Awards, a Golden Globe, and a People’s Choice Award, Irene Cara’s journey to stardom was nothing short of extraordinary. This article explores the illustrious career of Irene Cara, highlighting her significant contributions to music and film and solidifying her place as an icon.
Recognizing Irene’s innate talent early on, her parents enrolled her in classes encompassing music, acting, and dance. Even before formal training, her mother entered her into various competitions, and at the tender age of three, Irene became a finalist in the “Little Miss America” pageant. This early exposure to performance laid the groundwork for a career that would span decades and encompass multiple facets of the entertainment world.
Irene Cara’s professional journey commenced in Spanish-language television, where she showcased her singing and dancing abilities. This initial foray into the spotlight quickly led to appearances on national television shows, including iconic programs like ‘The Original Amateur Hour’, ‘The Ed Sullivan Show’, and ‘The Tonight Show’ with Johnny Carson. Her talent extended beyond television screens to the stages of Broadway and Off-Broadway. She graced productions such as ‘Ain’t Misbehavin”, the Obie Award-winning musical ‘The Me Nobody Knows’, ‘Maggie Flynn’ alongside Shirley Jones and Tony Award-nominated actor Jack Cassidy, and ‘Via Galactica’ with Raul Julia. These diverse stage roles demonstrated her versatility and solidified her reputation as a rising star.
Following her success on stage, Irene Cara seamlessly transitioned into series television. She secured a role in the daytime drama ‘Love of Life’ and became a fixture in the educational series ‘The Electric Company’. As a member of ‘The Short Circus’ group on ‘The Electric Company’, she creatively taught children about grammar through music, sharing the screen with veteran actors like Bill Cosby, Rita Moreno, and Morgan Freeman. This role showcased her ability to engage with younger audiences and further broadened her appeal.
Demonstrating her unwavering drive, Irene recorded her first Spanish-language album at the age of eight and followed it up with an English-speaking holiday album shortly after. Her burgeoning career was further recognized when she was honored as the youngest performer in an all-star concert tribute to the legendary Duke Ellington at Madison Square Garden. Sharing the stage with music giants such as Stevie Wonder, Sammy Davis, Jr., and Roberta Flack, Irene Cara proved she was in esteemed company and destined for greatness.
With a strong foundation in Broadway, television, and recording, Irene Cara set her sights on the world of cinema. Before even reaching her teenage years, she landed the lead role in the film ‘Aaron Loves Angela’. Her compelling performance in this film paved the way for her to star in the now-iconic musical drama ‘Sparkle’. Irene Cara’s versatility as an actress earned her international acclaim for roles in significant projects like ‘Roots: The Next Generation’, where she starred alongside James Earl Jones and Diahann Carroll, and ‘The Guyanna Tragedy: The Jim Jones Story’, again collaborating with James Earl Jones and LeVar Burton. Despite her already impressive resume, the role that would propel her to superstardom was just around the corner.
The year 1980 marked a turning point in Irene Cara’s career with her portrayal of Coco Hernandez in the movie-musical ‘Fame’. The film, centered around students auditioning for New York’s High School for the Performing Arts, captured audiences with its raw energy and depiction of artistic ambition. ‘Fame’ not only highlighted the prestigious LaGuardia High School and Juilliard but also served as a perfect platform for Irene’s exceptional vocal talents. She performed the film’s title song, ‘Fame’, and the emotionally resonant ‘Out Here on My Own’. History was made at the Academy Awards that year when both songs from ‘Fame’, performed by Irene Cara, were nominated for Best Original Song, a first for a single film. ‘Fame’ ultimately won the coveted award, solidifying Irene’s place in cinematic and musical history.
The phenomenal success of ‘Fame’ transformed Irene Cara into a household name. The accolades poured in, including two Grammy nominations for Best New Artist and Best Female Pop Vocal Artist, and a Golden Globe nomination for Best Motion Picture Actress in a Musical. Billboard Magazine recognized her as the Top New Single Artist, while Cashbox Magazine honored her as both the Most Promising Female Vocalist and Top Female Vocalist. ‘Fame’ not only launched her to new heights but also cemented her status as a multi-talented force in the entertainment industry.
In 1982, Irene Cara received the NAACP Image Award for Best Actress for her role in the NBC movie ‘Sister, Sister’, alongside Diahann Carroll and Rosalind Cash. She earned another NAACP Image Award nomination for portraying the lead in the PBS film ‘For Us the Living: The Medgar Evers Story’. Just when it seemed her career couldn’t ascend further, Irene Cara once again captivated the world with another iconic theme song.
In 1983, composer Giorgio Moroder approached Irene to collaborate on the theme song for the film ‘Flashdance’. Irene embraced the opportunity and co-wrote the lyrics for ‘Flashdance…What a Feeling’ with producer Keith Forsey while en route to the recording studio. These lyrics, imbued with aspiration and energy, further cemented Irene’s legendary status in Hollywood. ‘Flashdance’ garnered four Academy Award nominations, with Irene Cara winning the Oscar for Best Original Song. She also added a Golden Globe for Best Original Song in a Motion Picture, along with two Grammys, a People’s Choice Award, and an American Music Award. Her Academy Award win held even greater significance as Irene Cara, a woman of Puerto Rican and Cuban heritage, became the first biracial woman to win an Oscar in a non-acting category and only the second to be nominated outside of acting.
Continuing her prolific career into 1984 and 1985, Irene Cara starred in the film ‘City Heat’ alongside Clint Eastwood and Burt Reynolds. She not only co-wrote the theme song but also performed classic standards ‘Embraceable You’ and ‘Get Happy’ for the film. Her filmography expanded to include ‘Certain Fury’ with Tatum O’Neal, voicing “Snow White” in the animated ‘Happily Ever After’, and touring as “Mary Magdalene” in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’.
Amidst her Oscar and Grammy wins and touring, Irene Cara released the albums ‘Anyone Can See’ (1982) and ‘What a Feeling’ (1983). These albums spawned hits like ‘Breakdance’, ‘The Dream’, ‘You Were Made for Me’, and ‘Why Me’, with ‘Breakdance’ and ‘Why Me’ both reaching the Top 10. In 1985, she collaborated with Placido Domingo, showcasing her versatility across genres. Though her 1987 album ‘Carasmatic’ faced release issues in the United States, it became a sought-after collector’s item in the United Kingdom, adding to her mystique and enduring appeal.
Throughout the 1990s, Irene Cara continued to connect with audiences through extensive European concert tours. In 1999, she formed the band Hot Caramel, returning to live performances to the delight of fans eager to experience her distinctive voice once more.
The new millennium brought further recognition for Irene Cara’s lifetime achievements. In 2004, she received the Prestige Award for Lifetime Achievement, followed by the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Fort Lauderdale Film Institute in 2005. In 2006, the Columbus Times of Georgia, the oldest Black newspaper in the US, honored her with an Honorary Lifetime Achievement Award for outstanding contributions to the African-American community. The Reel Sisters of the Diaspora Film Festival presented her with the Trailblazer Award in 2007, and the City Council of New York acknowledged her extraordinary contributions as a performer. A particularly poignant moment was the unveiling of her name on a street sign in the Bronx Walk of Fame in 2011. That same year, she released a new album, ‘Irene Cara Presents Hot Caramel’. In her semi-retirement from the industry, Irene engaged with audiences through her YouTube podcast ‘The Irene Cara Show’, sharing insights and stories from her rich career in acting and music.
The enduring admiration from fans remained a source of joy for Irene Cara, who was deeply touched by the knowledge that her work inspired others in the entertainment industry.
Mariah Carey fondly recalled, “Around the same time, my mother entered me in a talent competition in the city, and I sang one of my favorite songs, ‘Out Here on My Own’, by Irene Cara. I felt ‘Out Here on My Own’ described my entire life, and I loved singing that way – singing to reveal a piece of my soul. And I won doing it. At that age. I lived for the movie ‘Fame’, and Irene Cara was everything to me.”
Celine Dion acknowledged Irene’s legacy in theme songs, stating, “Whether it’s ‘Titanic’ and the unsinkable ‘My Heart Will Go On’, ‘Michael’s Song’ and ‘Listen to the Magic Man’ (in English and French) for ‘The Peanut Butter Solution’, or ‘Deadpool 2’s’ unexpected ‘Ashes’, she presides over movie theme songs as if taking up the baton from Irene Cara herself.”
Whitney Houston’s appreciation for Irene’s work was evident in her connection to ‘Sparkle’: “‘Sparkle’ was especially important to because she’d been trying to get the film made for 15 years, having fallen in love with the 1976 original (starring Irene Cara, who went on to appear in Fame) as a teenager, seeing it every Saturday for three months straight.”
With the unforgettable lines “I’m gonna live forever,” and “Baby, remember my name” from her iconic song ‘Fame’, Irene Cara’s legacy is indeed everlasting. From her early beginnings as “Little Miss America” to her triumphs in ‘The Electric Company’, ‘Flashdance’, and beyond, Irene Cara’s impact on music and film ensures that her name will be remembered for generations to come. Her talent, hard work, and undeniable charisma have cemented her status as a true icon, inspiring artists and audiences alike.
