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Artist News
Fame and Flashdance singer Irene Cara dies
By Andy Malt | Published on Monday 28 November 2022
Singer Irene Cara has died, aged 63. She was best known for singing the title songs to the movies ‘Fame’ and ‘Flashdance’, and also played the lead role of Coco Hernandez in ‘Fame’.
Her publicist, Judith Moose, said in a statement: “It is with profound sadness that on behalf of her family I announce the passing of Irene Cara. The Academy Award winning actress, singer, songwriter, and producer passed away in her Florida home. Her cause of death is currently unknown and will be released when information is available”.
“Irene’s family has requested privacy as they process their grief”, she added. “She was a beautifully gifted soul whose legacy will live forever through her music and films. Funeral services are pending and a memorial for her fans will be planned at a future date”.
The formal announcement issued, Moose added on Twitter: “This is the absolute worst part of being a publicist. I can’t believe I’ve had to write this, let alone release the news. Please share your thoughts and memories of Irene. I’ll be reading each and every one of them and know she’ll be smiling from Heaven. She adored her fans”.
Born in 1959 in the Bronx area of New York City, Cara began her career as a child actor on Spanish language TV. She also recorded music and appeared in musicals on and off Broadway.
In 1979, she was cast as a dancer in the Alan Parker directed film ‘Fame’. However, when the film’s makers heard her singing voice, the lead role of Coco Hernandez was re-written for her to play. She performed the title track, ‘Fame’, and several other songs on the film’s soundtrack, including ‘Out Here On My Own’, which was also released as a single.
Her next big hit didn’t come until 1983, when she released the title track for the movie ‘Flashdance’ – ‘Flashdance… What A Feeling’ – which she co-wrote with Giorgio Moroder and Keith Forsey. The track won her an Oscar, a Grammy, a Golden Globe and two American Music Awards. She also later re-recorded the song for 1997 film ‘The Full Monty’.
Moose said that Cara had been working on new projects at the time of her death, which the publicist said will be completely posthumously.
