Legacy of Irene Cara, the Fame’s Face

How Fame’s theme song put one lady high on the music chart.

Irene Cara, singer-actress, created the theme song for Fame, “Flashdance” which had everyone toe-taping or outright dancing. She came to prominence as a Fame cast member who went on to win an Oscar, Golden Globe, and two-time Grammys. Kara sang and starred in the 1980 hit movie, “Fame” and belted the hit, “Flashdance….What a Feeling” from 1983’s “Flashdance.”

Over her short 63-year lifespan and professional career, Cara had Top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100. Her songs “Breakdance,” “Out Here on My Own,” and Flashdance..….What a Feeling,” spent six weeks №1.

Cara’s prominence began with her being among a select group of young actors who played high schoolers in Alan Parker’s “Fame,” and notable costars such as Debbie Allen, Paul McCrane, and Anne Mear. She played a striving dancer character who was subjected to much humiliation.

Irene Cara was born March 18, 1959, as Irene Escalera in the South Bronx. Her father Gaspar Escalera was from Puerto Rico, a factory worker, and was responsible for bringing merengue to the U.S. Her mother, Louise Escalera, was a cashier of Cuban descent.

Before there was Jennifer Lopez born in the Bronx, New York, and before Madonna, Whitney Houston, and Mariah, there was Irene Cara from the block ten years earlier.

While Fame put her on the map in so many ways, her career actually began in the Little Miss America Pageant, followed by her breakout appearance as an 8-year-old on Ted Mack’s “The Original Amateur Hour.” While she studied piano and dance, she would regularly appear as a singer-dancer on Spanish-language TV variety shows. As a young child, she was always told that she would acquire fame by attending the Professional Children’s School.

Also, she appeared in “The Electric Company,” the iconic PBS children’s show, and stage appearances in Broadway’s “Maggie Flynn” with Shirley Jones, the Obie Award-winning musical “The Me Nobody Knows,” “Via Galactica,” with Raul Julia and “Ain’t Misbehavin,” with Nell Carter and “Hadestown” with Tony winner André DeShields. She also toured the musical “Jesus Christ Superstar” and a production tour of the musical “Flashdance,” with her songs.

Given her resume, one of her most defining roles on the big screen was as a feisty, wannabe star Coco Hernandez in the 1980 megahit “Fame.” As art imitates real life, Cara’s character in the show was preyed upon by a predatory director. Similarly in her real life, in 1985 she sued her label head, Al Coury who signed her to his Network Records in a $10 million breach-of-contract suit for cheating her out of her royalties.

She was awarded $1.5 million and the label went bankrupt and she was never paid. Coury died in 2013, and Cara believed that he blackballed her in the industry. Thereafter, she faded into obscurity residing in a home in Florida.

Before her career came to a stall, she sang the soaring title song with the chorus — “Remember my name/I’m gonna live forever/I’m gonna learn how to fly/I feel it coming together/People will see me and cry” which was nominated for an Academy Award for best original song. Other songs to her credit were “Out Here on My Own,” “Hot Lunch Jam,” and “I Sing the Body Electric.” Film credits included “Sparkle,” and “D.C. Cab.”

Fame continued to knock as she and the songwriting team of “Flashdance”, music by Giorgio Moroder, lyrics by Keith Forsey, and Cara won the Oscar for best original song for “Flashdance…What a Feeling.” After this Oscar win, Cara’s career stalled and she found herself knee-deep in legal troubles.

In spite of her legal hardship, Cara cared about her music and continued to give occasional performances after 2005 and in 2010 recruited a group of female musicians, Hot Caramel. She produced and arranged all the songs per two of the band members, vocalist Audrey Martells and guitarist Sheryl Bailey. Also notable with her band, she produced a double CD with the single “How Can I Make You Luv Me.”

According to her neighbor, Cara lived a quiet poverty-stricken, and secluded life even though her representation claims the negative comments made by Cara’s neighbor were untrue. Nevertheless, her legacy and fame are not negotiable for degradation.

In conclusion, Irene Cara, a singer, songwriter, and actress transitioned on November 25, 2022, leaving a body of work that she will get her to wish, no one will forget her name. Long live Irene Cara.

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