Irene Cara, the singer who performed the famous What a Feeling in Flashdance while Jennifer Beals danced before a jury as an aspiring dancer, has died at the age of 63, as confirmed by her publicist through social networks. The Oscar winner for the best original song for the catchy theme of the aforementioned film and also for the title song of the film Fame was found dead this Friday at her home in Florida and her causes have not been revealed.
“They will be announced when information is available,” says its public relations, Judith A. Moose on Twitter in its statement. “With deep sadness and on behalf of her family, I announce the death of Irene Cara,” she points out in the artist’s official account.
Born in the Bronx, into a large and humble family, with a father of Puerto Rican origin and a black mother of Cuban ancestry, Irene Cara began playing the piano by hearsay, and later studied music, interpretation and dance rigorously and at an early age. . Her first appearances on television, on Latino channels, singing in Spanish, gave way to programs with a large audience, such as Johnny Carson’s Tonight Show. From there to appearing in Broadway shows she measured a step. In 1972 she had the leading role, along with Raul Juliá, in the rock musical Via Galactica. Then came the movie Aaron Loves Angela, a melodrama adaptation of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, with Harlem and interracial relationships in the background. Then, in Sparkle (1976), she starred in a story inspired by The Supremes, Diana Ross’ group. Her appearance in television series, such as the second installment of Raíces, also contributed decisively to her fame.
Irene was therefore more than ready when the time came for her to go down in pop history. She went with the youth drama Fame, a mythical film by British director Alan Parker in which she plays the role of Coco Hernandez. She also sings the main theme of the film, which is her debut single, converted from the moment of its release, in May 1980, into a disco music classic, without forgetting the rock component. The song won an Oscar in 1981, for best movie theme, and was later used for the television series of the same title.
Irene also sang the other single from the musical, Out here on my own. Both managed to make the film’s soundtrack reach multi-platinum sales. All doors were opened for him. Next up was her starring in a sitcom, Irene, in 1981, while continuing to perform live. She played Dorothy on tour in the musical The Wiz, before reaching the peak of her career with Flashdance… what a feeling, the theme song for the film Flashdance, co-written by her, which she wrote the lyrics with Keith Forsey, and Giorgio Moroder . Another milestone in dance music with a disco tinge to which she was showered with awards, including Oscars and Grammys for best song and best female performance.
The cinema claims her, so she stars in the thriller City Heat (1984), along with Clint Eastwood and Burt Reynolds, also singing on the soundtrack and co-writing the main theme. At this same time she achieved her last great success with Breakdance, a song by Giorgio Moroder inspired by Herbie Hancock’s Rockit. It was the third single from her second album What a feeling (1983), in which the disco sound made in Giorgio Moroder has a decisive importance. Her film career continued with Certain Fury (1985), an action drama alongside Tatum O’Neal. Her fruitful career led her to star in the role of Mary Magdalene in 1993, during the Jesus Christ Superstar rock opera tour.
Although he will go down in music history for his resounding singles, we must not forget that he has notable albums to his credit, such as his debut Anyone can see (1982), a compendium of solid R songs.
