Irene Cara
From Free net encyclopedia
Irene Cara (born Irene Escalera on March 18, 1959 in The Bronx, New York City) is an American singer and actress.
Her career started on Spanish-language television as a child, professionally singing and dancing. From there, Cara appeared in on- and off-Broadway theatrical shows including the musical The Me Knowbody Knows, which won an Obie, and Maggie Flynn, opposite Shirley Jones and Jack Cassidy. By age 8, Cara recorded a Latin-market Spanish-language record; an English Christmas album soon followed.
Her first national exposure was in the educational series The Electric Company, playing a member of the band The Short Circus.
Her first jobs as a teen came on television, getting a role on the soap Love of Life and the classic kids' show The Electric Company.
She is best remembered for singing the themes from Fame and Flashdance. She played Coco Hernandez in Fame, Sparkle in Sparkle, and Angela in romance thriller classic Aaron Loves Angela.
She won both the 1983 Academy Award for Best Song and the 1984 Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for "Flashdance (What A Feeling)", from Flashdance.
Along with her successful career in acting, Cara released two albums in the 1980s: Anyone Can See in 1982, and What A Feelin' in 1983.
In June 2005, Irene won the third round of NBC television series Hit Me Baby One More Time, performing "Flashdance (What a Feeling)" and covered Anastacia's hit "I'm Outta Love" with her current band, Hot Caramel.
Contents |
Discography
Albums
- 1980 Fame Sndtrk- Polygram
- 1982 Anyone Can See - Elektra
- 1983 What a Feelin' - Network
- 1985 City Heat Sndtrk - Warner Bros.
- 1987 Carasmatic - Elektra
Singles
| Year | Single | Album | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Fame | Fame - Soundtrack | #4 |
| 1980 | Out Here on My Own | Fame - Soundtrack | #19 |
| 1981 | Anyone Can See | Anyone Can See | #64 |
| 1982 | Anyone Can See [re-chart] | Anyone Can See | #42 |
| 1983 | Flashdance ... What A Feeling! | Flashdance - Soundtrack / What A Feelin' | #1 |
| 1983 | Why Me | What A Feelin' | #13 |
| 1983 | The Dream (Hold on to Your Dream) | DC Cab - Soundtrack / What A Feelin' | #37 |
| 1984 | Breakdance | What A Feelin' | #8 |
| 1984 | You Were Made For Me | What A Feelin' | #78 |
Vocal Appearances
- John Blaire - We Belong Together (1977) Vocals
- The Brecker Brothers - Detente (1980) Vocals (bckgr)
- Bill Chinnock - Badlands (1978) Vocals
- Gordon Grody - Exclusively Yours Vocals (bckgr)
- Jimmy Maelen - Beats Workin' (1980) Vocals
- Millington - Ladies on the Stage (1978) Vocals, Vocals (bckgr)
- T. Life - That's Life (1978) Vocals (bckgr)
- Original Soundtrack - Fame [Polydor Soundtrack] (1980) Vocals, Vocals (bckgr)
- Various Artists - Billboard Top Hits: 1980 (1980)
- Various Artists - Billboard Top Dance Hits: 1980 (1980) Vocals
- Original Soundtrack - All Dogs Go to Heaven (1989)
- Various Artists - Disco Fox, Vol. 4 (1997)
- George Duke - Best of George Duke: The Elektra... (1997) Vocals
- Oleta Adams - Very Best of Oleta Adams (1998) Vocals (bckgr)
- DJ Bobo - Planet Colors (2001) Vocal Arrangement, Vocal Recording
- DJ Bobo - Celebration (2002) Engineer, Vocal Arrangement
- DJ Bobo - Celebration [Limited Edition] (2002) Engineer, Vocal Arrangement
Irene's Songs Appear On
- Richard Clayderman - Cinema Passion, Vol. 1 / Remembering the Movies
- DJ Bobo - Planet Colors
- Anna Fegi - Every Step of the Way
- Ilona Irvine - Sweet Memory
- Starsound Orchestra - Best TV, Movie & Broadway Themes
- Tokahits - Tokahits
- Original Soundtrack - Flashdance [Original Soundtrack] / Full Monty [Original Soundtrack]
Filmography
- Aaron Loves Angela (1975)
- Sparkle (1976)
- Apple Pie (1976)
- Roots: The Next Generations (1979)
- On Location with: FAME (1980) (short subject)
- Fame (1980)
- Killing 'em Softly (1982)
- D.C. Cab (1983) (Cameo)
- Flashdance (1983)
- City Heat (1984)
- Certain Fury (1985)
- Busted Up (1986)
- Caged in Paradiso (1990)
- The Magic Voyage (1992) (voice)
- Happily Ever After (1993) (voice)
- Kids From Fame(Documentary)(2003)
See also
- List of famous Puerto Ricans
- List of number-one hits (United States)
- List of artists who reached number one on the Hot 100 (U.S.)
- List of Number 1 Dance Hits (United States)
- List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. Dance chart