Photo Credit: Maggie Smith

Often called the most effective means of communication, music enriches our lives with its deep rhythmic celebration of life. Not only do we admire and respect musicians, but often enough they become an integral part of our society. The moment we hear them sing, their voice captivates us and like it or not we succumb to their enticing lyrics and passionate sounds. Anyone who has heard Carol artistic version of "The Star Spangled Banner" will agree with the above statement. Carol's music has remained universally popular and very recognizable. Whether it be "Gonna Fly Now", the hit theme song from Rocky that has gone on to be the most performed song ever-or perhaps you'll remember "To Know Him Is to Love Him", which she made popular while being lead singer of The Teddy Bears-Carol's music remains as some of the most memorable songs of the last 30 years. She has performed for Presidents the likes of Gerald Ford and Ronald Reagan and for celebrities such as Elizabeth Taylor and Liza Minnelli to Don Shula and Ray Charles. She co-penned the theme to Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, "Champagne Wishes and Caviar Dreams." Carol's music has been recognized for its beautiful lyrics and music. She has received countless Academy Award, Emmy, Grammy, and Golden Globe nominations as well as many awards for her music and her humanitarian efforts. Most currently Carol is working as musical director for the new film, "ELVIS IS ALIVE...I Just Saw Him Eating a Ding-dong outside the Piggly Wiggily". Carol's involvement with this movie takes on a personal note. Back in her days as lead singer of The Teddy Bears, Elvis Presley wanted to meet the girl who sang "To Know Him Is to Love him". So, they met, and shortly after Elvis became Carol's first boyfriend.

We are very fortunate to be able to have Carol in this, our Holiday issue. Her work with charities is well known all over. Recently I had the opportunity of meeting Carol in person, after a friendship that formed via telephone (thanks to the help of my good friend Harry Schwartz). Being the constant humanitarian Carol was in Ft. Lauderdale performing for The Easter Seals Mash Bash '97. Easter Seals is an organization dedicated to working with children needing medical attention. Her performance was incredible and received a standing ovation. This November 13th, Carol celebrates her birthday with a special trip to Africa, sponsored by the World Travel Association. Carol along with her sister, brother-in-law, and good friend actress Deana Lund, will embark on a voyage to South Africa and participate in three safaris. "I am going to go see the Big Cats", said Carol who shares her home with two felines. Carol lives in Beverly Hills with her two kitties, Music Man, and Minstrel. I am very pleased to be able to share with you this pleasant interview I had the opportunity of conducting. A brilliant composer, fantastic singer, an incomparable lady, and a true cat lover, Carol is indeed the cat's meow.

Photo Credit: Maggie Smith

KT: How many cats do you have?
CC: I have two Abyssinians. Their names are Minstrel and Music Man, or M&M. I also call them Major and Minor. To be honest I have a ton of names for them. They like it when I call them my little Gooserheads

KT: Growing up did you have a lot of pets?
CC: No. We had a dog for about two weeks. I didn't really like him; he had an aroma that I did not care for. My sister and I always wanted pets, so when my brother was born he started keeping Parakeets, and we had tons of Parakeets. When I moved out on my own, I had my own cat named Nefertiti. It was a black cat and she lived to be 18.

The day I bought my home in Beverly Hills, she died, so she never came here. It was like she said, "Go on, it's time to move on with your life". Many years before I went on a dock near a bay, and I saw this cat, so I followed it to its owner and he told me it was an Abyssinian. He went on to tell me everything about them. So that day, in a manner not unlike Scarlet O' Hara in Gone with the Wind when she picks up the radish and says, "I'll never go hungry again," I said if I ever make money, I will own an Abyssinian. And so I did.

KT: How did you acquire most of your pets?
CC: Well Nefertiti just wandered into my life. I was living in a cave, and she just showed up and became my bud for 18 years. All the Abyssinians I have bought from breeders. I had Songbird--my first one--whom someone stole, Harmony that died of a rare disease, Minstrel and Mistro. Mistro passed away, and now I have Music Man.

KT: Do you spoil your pets?
CC: Well they are Beverly Hills Cats, so they have 5 kitty liters. They are fed twice a day. I try not to give them much people food. So, I do my best to take really good care of them. They get cared for by Dr. Winters of the Beverly Hills Small Animal Pet Hospital, so I insure they only get top-notch treatment.

Photo Credit: Maggie Smith Carol alongside Karem Tabsch at the Easter Seals M*A*S*H BASH'97 Fundraiser

KT: Do you travel with M&M?
CC: No I prefer not to, God forbid I'd take them somewhere and they spent the entire trip under the bed cause they where terrified. I have a pet nanny named Susan Jones, a remarkable lady who takes care of the cats wonderfully.

KT: Do you work with any animal organizations?
CC: Well I help when I can. I occasionally work with Feline and Friends, that is run by Sherry Hacket, Buddy Hacket's wife. I'm involved in Shambala, which is Tippi Hedren's organization. I strongly support 1-800-HELP-4-Pets; they help locate lost pets. I also do a lot of work with children; I believe you've got to help humanity as well.

KT: Do you have a favorite animal?
CC: It would definitely have to be cats. Big cats, small cats, any color or size-I love them all. I also am in love with Dolphins. Every time I'm in Florida, I go down to Key Largo and to the Dolphin Research Center. I've got a friend there who lets me swim with the Dolphins in exchange for some Cigars.

KT: You have been fortunate enough to work in several projects. Which one of them are you most proud of?
CC: Well, I was lucky enough to co-write the theme to Rocky with Bill Conti and Anne Robins which went on to become the physical fitness songs of the world. That was one of my lucky stars. One of my favorite songs was a tune called With You I'm Born Again from a film called Fast Break. It has gone on to where many people have gotten married to it. The Rescuers was a great project because it was animated. We were nominated for an Oscar for that one.

KT: What will you like to be remembered for?
CC: I guess I'd like to be remembered for my music. I've written a song called Only the Music, Only my Song. Part of the lyric says, "Only the Music, Only my Song, will be there after I'm gone. Only the Music, Only my Song. They're my friends after all my friends are gone". I think I'd like to be remembered for music because that seems to be my life.

KT: If you could be any animal which one would you be and why?
CC: I'd be a porpoise, because I love the water. I'd like to be that intelligent. Or a cat.

KT: What do you think about music today?
CC: Well, I watch MTV, and I listen to today's music. I listen to Rap and I think some of it is just so brilliant; the rhymes and the words are wonderful. Yet some of it is very angry, very anti-police, pro drug and crime. I think it is our children crying out to us and telling us this is what they are living. I think some of it is brilliant, and some of it is just so awful.

KT: Do you feel you and your cats have a special bond?

CC: Yes, of course. In fact, when my cat Harmony died I had dreamt her death the night before. It came to me in a dream and they told me they were taking Harmony from me. I said no. They said she has to because she had to visit my father. My father had already passed away. I said ok. I'll get another kitty, I'll name it Mistro, the voice said, and it'll be a little boy. That morning Harmony died. I was supposed to go to The First Aids Benefit that night given by Sammy Davis Jr., and I couldn't because I cried so much.

Another thing I learned was to be very careful with turkeys. Mistro died cause he ate the string that is used to keep the turkey together, and it wrapped around his intestines.

During Thanksgiving, it is very important we watch out for similar accidents.

-Kareem Tabsch is a freelance writer who specializes in celebrity interviews. He has interviewed celebrities such as Elizabeth Taylor, Bob Hope, Joan Rivers, Julio Iglesias, Barbara Mandrell and others. He writes frequently on animal related issues as well as on the entertainment industry.